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According to this writer, workers being allowed to change jobs or leave the country without their sponsor’s permission equals extortion of Qataris/Qatari businesses. Someone needs to remind her that slavery is no longer legal. (16 Nov Arrayah) #Qatar 
https://www.raya.com/2020/11/16/%d9%85%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%af-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%82%d9%84%d9%85-%d8%a8%d8%b1%d9%88%d8%aa%d9%88%d9%83%d9%88%d9%84-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d9%86%d8%b8%d9%85%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%af%d9%88%d9%84%d9%8a%d8%a9/
https://www.raya.com/2020/11/16/%d9%85%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%af-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%82%d9%84%d9%85-%d8%a8%d8%b1%d9%88%d8%aa%d9%88%d9%83%d9%88%d9%84-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d9%86%d8%b8%d9%85%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%af%d9%88%d9%84%d9%8a%d8%a9/
She begins with her experience in the US, studying for a PhD. Of course, she had to take her ‘nanny’ with her to take care of her two kids. Lo & behold! A neighbour offered the nanny better wages to work for them. Ms Khater thinks this is ‘treachery’.
I wonder if she would say no to a better job offer herself or would object to an employer approaching her with a better deal.
The reforms according to her are ‘extortion & theft’ being disguised as human rights. That’s not the only spin or self-victimisation of the powerful in her opinion piece.
She commends the government for helping businesses with loans and new regulations during the pandemic, to enable business continuity. Some of these regulations include wage cuts, leave without pay and termination. *All of this she is very happy with.* https://www.migrant-rights.org/2020/06/qatar-to-cut-wages-of-foreigners-kuwait-to-freeze-recruitment-of-non-nationals-in-the-energy-sector/
But apparently, these reforms nullify those efforts, and the Shura Council acted in haste by passing these reforms. Because citizens (and their small businesses) are being ‘paralyzed and blackmailed.’ https://www.migrant-rights.org/2020/08/qatar-reforms-greater-job-mobility-and-higher-minimum-wage/
I’d be shedding tears of sympathy at this point if it weren’t for the 100s of cases we deal with weekly, where workers are dehumanised and criminalised for merely demanding wages for their work, and being jailed for complaining or wanting to change jobs. https://www.migrant-rights.org/2020/10/18-months-of-non-payment-qatari-company-leaves-workers-in-the-lurch/
She says reforms don’t take into account confidentiality and privacy. It does. There is a non-compete clause that prevents change of jobs to similar sectors. The writer is deliberately oblivious to the power citizens hold over migrants. Ex A of countless: https://www.migrant-rights.org/2018/05/1200-workers-from-a-single-qatari-company-stranded/
Of course there are cases where a citizen business/employer is taken for a ride. But that’s such a minuscule percentage, it is unethical to levy a collective punishment for the acts of a few. https://twitter.com/vanish_forever/status/1276423811341008896
There seems to be a comparison between the threat to one group’s (often luxurious) lifestyle with another group’s mere survival and livelihood.
That’s simply wrong.
That’s simply wrong.
Moreover, very few actually get away with this, because remember, the employers until recently could prevent them from exiting the country. And even now can with a push of a button file a ‘runaway’ charge or a false theft case against them. https://www.migrant-rights.org/2020/09/huroob-runaway-absconding-trapping-migrants-in-extreme-abuse/
She fears intl orgs are bringing hatred towards & sowing political chaos in Qatar… am not fully sure on what these fears are based.
That her nanny will want better wages? Her secretary will want better prospects? Or that employers will find it difficult to exercise 100% control over their employees? https://www.migrant-rights.org/2020/10/no-off-days-14-hour-workdays-and-confiscated-passports/
Don’t worry, there are enough loopholes in the laws for businesses/employers to completely destroy lives of those in their sponsorship. https://www.migrant-rights.org/2020/10/the-kafala-is-alive-and-kicking-migrants-where-it-hurts-most/
Like you can actually try raping your domestic worker, and have her detained and deported for complaining. That kind of power. https://www.migrant-rights.org/2020/11/sexually-harassed-and-deported-for-running-away/
I am going to follow this up with a short list of links/anecdotes that merely scratch the surface of the abuse and exploitation of migrant workers.
For starters, this one: https://www.migrant-rights.org/2020/07/un-official-presents-report-on-structural-racism-and-de-facto-caste-system-of-qatar/
For starters, this one: https://www.migrant-rights.org/2020/07/un-official-presents-report-on-structural-racism-and-de-facto-caste-system-of-qatar/
And here’s a reality check on the lives of domestic workers: https://www.migrant-rights.org/2020/04/domestic-workers-bearing-the-brunt-of-invisibility-isolation-and-inequality/
I would like to draw attention to the environment in which arguments, such as the ones made in this article, gain validity. https://www.migrant-rights.org/2020/04/structured-to-perfection-racism-in-the-gulf/
Has Qatar often been singled out for criticism in the region (unfairly)?
YES
Has the criticism over its hosting of the 2022 World Cup been rather racist?
DEFINITELY YES!
Are there other GCC states with far poorer human rights record?
OH, YES!
Has Qatar made progress?
ABSOLUTELY!
YES
Has the criticism over its hosting of the 2022 World Cup been rather racist?
DEFINITELY YES!
Are there other GCC states with far poorer human rights record?
OH, YES!
Has Qatar made progress?
ABSOLUTELY!
But what is being reported about human rights violations accurate?
UNEQUIVOCALLY YES.
UNEQUIVOCALLY YES.
*is what’s being ...
