DOHA, 7 May 2005 — Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee has called for reforms in exit permit rules for expatriate workers in the state.

The committee wants authorities to replace current rules regulating the exit of foreigners with “better ones”, NHRC Secretary-General Ali Sumaikh Al-Marri told Arrayah daily.

All expatriates in Qatar now have to present exit permits signed by their sponsors at airports at the time of their leaving. Foreign workers, who will not be allowed to leave without this document, have complained that this rule is open to abuse as sponsors can keep them from leaving the country by refusing to sign the document.

The current exit permit system needs overhaul, Al-Marri said citing the complaints.

He also revealed that the government is studying a new law on the entry, residence and exit of foreigners. “It is expected to be issued soon after amendments to some articles of the existing law.”

The new regulations, he hoped, “will end injustice against expats” and will protect the interests of their sponsors at the same time.

Al-Marri said some employers abused current rules by refusing without any valid reason appeals of foreign workers to change sponsors. The human rights committee has helped several such workers by changing their sponsorship with the cooperation of the Interior Ministry. Al-Marri praised the ministry’s “flexible approach” on the issue.

He also said that representatives of the human rights committee had been visiting deportation centers periodically and “had helped resolve some controversial issues.” The committee had even managed to get canceled some deportation orders.