Qatar Sponsorship: New Law Under Consideration

A new sponsorship law for Qatar, which will allow employees to change jobs, is under consideration according to the outgoing US ambassador. The law, which was reported in Business Intelligence Middle East, may be a response to the US State Department's annual trafficking report which heavily criticised Qatar as a country which was a destination for human trafficking for the purposes of involuntary servitude.

Currently an employee arriving in Qatar may not change job without his or her employers permission - or leave the country, take out a loan or enjoy other rights taken for granted in other parts of the world. While the Government have made noises about removing the system of sponsorship in the past (see the End of Sponsorship?), there has been some resistance by local businesses.

Ultimately, allowing employees to change jobs should benefit the country as a whole, as skilled workers will remain in the country. It will also mean Qatar will be coming more into line with international standards.

Qatar has made great strides towards becoming a fairer, modern and more just society in the past few years. While, as both American and Amnesty International reports show, the country is not perfect, Qatar has put a stop to child camel jockeys, improved women's rights and started on the road to democracy. Hopefully an adjustment to the much disliked sponsorship law, if not its abolition, will be the next step.

Also see: Finding Work in Qatar

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Camel Road Sign

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Predicted increase in rents

A real estate firm has predicted that the price of rents in Qatar will increase. Reg Barichievy, general manager of a real estate firm in Qatar, believes that there will two years of rent rises before there is any fall. Qatar Journal mentions that many Qatar Living readers are sceptical.

These things are notoriously difficult to predict, and I am certainly not brave enough to guess what's going to happen. It is interesting, though, that a recent article reported that some landlords were holding on to empty apartments rather than accepting lower rents, which suggests rents are already too high.

Huge building has been continuing in Doha suggesting that the supply of property is going to increase. Silmutaneously, there seems a distinct possibility of a global slow-down with the sub-prime morgage crisis in America and a shortage of credit around the world. Perhaps Reg believes that the huge predicted growth in Qatar's gas output will innure Qatar to these factors. If he has right, we could see yet more long term Doha residents leave the country.

Also see: Renting in Doha

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An interview with the Emir

An interview with Sheik Hamad and his wife, Sheikha Moza.





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New Traffic Regulations

Qatar is getting tougher again with its chaotic drivers with the implementation of a new traffic law. Driving in Qatar has been compared to an extreme sport by the US State Department, and fines, despite the huge number that have been paid, have proved ineffective. Now offenders will get points as well as pay fines, and can eventually lose their license. (See Traffic Offences for more details of the complicated system.) In addition, other penalties have been made tougher, and will include fines of up to QR50,000 and prison sentences.

While this is a positive step in a country where seventy percent of youth’s deaths are caused by traffic accidents, there are concerns about fair implementation. After all, this is the country where a senior policeman blamed the state of the roads on Indian drivers. While it is true to say there are many dangerous expat drivers, Qataris have to take some of the blame. There is, after all, a big difference between being a skilled driver and being a safe driver.

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Driving in Qatar: Practical Information

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Qatar Airways: Five Star?

Qatar Airways, the "five star airline" has won three new skytrax awards: best airline in the Middle East, best Cabin Crew and best first class in the world.

I have to admit I am getting tired of Qatar Airways five star claims. I was especially annoyed during a recent flight with them. While flying we had to watch their advertisement, which included their interactive entertainment system. We didn't have any choice over to whether to watch it or not, because this was one of the flights where they didn't have an interactive entertainment system.

Normally I wouldn't complain - I am lucky to be able to travel by plane. But it's not five star.

Worse, however, was the fact there was no soap in the toilets. I particularly felt this because my one year old had diarrhoea. This wasn't due to the baby meal, because they had forgotten it. The time before they had forgotten the child meal.

Although they remembered the child meal, the container was so hot we burnt our fingers on it. There was a bag of crisps - our child had one and burst into tears because they were spicy.

Qatar Airways is not a terrible airline, but they seem to struggle with anything out of the ordinary. It certainly doesn't compare to the best airlines I've flown with. I'd personally rate it as three star rather than five star.

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Inflation falls in Qatar

Inflation has fallen slightly in Qatar according to Qatar’s central bank, although at 12.5% it is still well above Qatar’s interest rates. The fall in inflation seems to be mainly due to a slowing in the price of renting and buying property, which rose at a mere 27% in the three months to the end of June (compared to 35% to the end of March).

Qatar claims that inflation is due to the booming economy. While this is undoubtedly a factor, Qatar’s crazy policy of low interest rates and pegging the riyal to the dollar is also a major factor. Meanwhile, people are seeing the value of the wages stripped away. Some long term Doha residents are starting to leave – sometimes very reluctantly. Some Qataris are also suffering, with young people putting off their inordinately expensive weddings to later in life, and spending longer in the family home.

If you are considering to Qatar, remember to factor inflation into your calculations. Try also to find a contract where accommodation is included!

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