BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Qatar hero Barshim is Athlete of INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 6-10, 27, 28 COMMENT 26 the Year REGION 11 BUSINESS 1–5, 9-12 Qatar Chamber eyes 19,123.38 9,793.83 49.02 ARAB WORLD 11, 12 CLASSIFIED 6-8 +1.98 +157.43 +3.79 INTERNATIONAL 13–25 SPORTS 1 – 12 grain storage project +0.1% +1.63% +8.38 Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978 THURSDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10289 December 1, 2016 Rabia I 2, 1438 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Father Emir offers condolences on Castro’s death New expat In brief law sets QATAR | Awards Prime Minister honours 50 SMEs HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin options for Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani has honoured 50 small- and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs) which have been listed by the Qatar Development Bank in the ‘SME Excellence List 2016’ in a ceremony held at the Four Seasons Hotel job change yesterday evening. The ceremony was attended by the Governor of fter the new expatriates law approval of the MADLSA prior to tak- Qatar Central Bank (QCB), HE Sheikh comes into force on December ing up their new employment. Abdullah bin Saud al-Thani, and a A13, foreign workers will have Under the new law, service periods number of ministers, diplomats and new options to change jobs and apply are calculated from the day that the VIPs. The SME Excellence List is a for exit permits, a government com- employee started working for their collection of the top performing munique issued yesterday said. employer. SMEs in Qatar that rank high in Law No 21 of 2015 that deals with This includes all days of employ- parameters that enable a high the entry, exit, and residency of ex- ment accumulated prior to the imple- success rate. Page 9 pats abolishes Qatar’s existing Kafala mentation of Law No 21 of 2015. (sponsorship) system, replacing it In cases where a worker wishes to QATAR | Exhibition with a modernised, contract-based change job prior to completing the length system. of their contract, they will need to seek Doha International A salient feature of the new law is permission from their existing employer. Book Fair opens HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani off ered condolences to Cuban President Raul Castro and to the that all prospective expatriate work- However, in cases where the worker HE the Minister of Culture and members of the family on the death of former president Fidel Castro, during a funeral held in Havana yesterday. The ers will be able to see a copy of their job can demonstrate they have been ex- Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser Father Emir gave a speech in which he highlighted the late president’s achievements and his historical stances towards contract, prior to leaving their country ploited or mistreated by their em- al-Ali yesterday inaugurated the supporting the just Arab causes, especially the Palestine issue, and the revolution of a million martyrs in Algeria. Page 8 of origin, as obtaining a work visa will ployer, the law gives them the right to Doha International Book Fair at the now require a job contract approved demand to transfer employment. Doha Exhibition and Convention by the Ministry of Administrative De- Expatriates who leave Qatar and Centre. The minister said the velopment, Labour & Social Aff airs have had their employment and Resi- exhibition reaff irmed Qatar’s (MADLSA). Expats will no longer need dency Permit terminated, will be able commitment to bring to the country approval from their existing employer to return to Qatar to take up new em- events and programmes that would to change jobs if they complete the ployment immediately after being contribute to the cultural and length of a fi xed-term contract. granted a new visa. educational enhancement of the Individuals in open-ended contracts However, this will not be the case for Exit permit rules eased workers who have been found guilty of residents in line with the goals and will also be able to change jobs without objectives of Qatar National Vision their existing employer’s permission, misconduct whilst working for their 2030. Page 27 provided they complete a fi ve-year previous employer in Qatar. service period. If necessary, MADLSA may allow QATAR | WISH summit However, it is required that expats expatriates up to three months to fi nd for migrant workers a new job. in fi xed-contracts provide written no- Call for improved tice to their employer before the con- When the worker has found a new healthcare systems hen enacted on December 13, The ministry hopes in the over- If any of these objections are raised tract expires, advising their employer job, he will be required to return to the The World Innovation Summit for Law No 21 of 2015, the new whelming majority of cases, exit per- by the employer, the onus will be on of their intention to change jobs at the ministry and present the new employ- Health (WISH) 2016 concluded Wlaw that will govern the en- mit requests will be approved and the employer to convince the authori- end of their contract. ment contract. yesterday with the global healthcare try, exit, and residency of expats will processed by employers immediately. ties before the 72-hour period closes The duration to notify the employer Expatriates who do not fi nd work fraternity discussing some of the guarantee the freedom of movement If the employer rejects this request, that a criminal case should be opened will depend on the terms and conditions within this period must leave Qatar. major challenges in the sector for over 2.1mn salaried workforce in expats will be able to apply directly to up against the worker. in the contract signed by each employee. Employers found to have confi scated as well as exploring possibilities Qatar, an offi cial statement yesterday the Exit Permit Grievances Commit- If they cannot succeed in persuad- Expats who have open-ended con- passports can be fi ned up to QR25,000 to overcome them. The closing said. tee, either through an e-government ing the relevant authorities, the worker tracts also have to provide a writ- per worker. ceremony was attended by The new law abolishes the existing services programme, or in-person at will be automatically granted an exit ten notice to their employer prior to When enacted, this will be the HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Kafala system, replacing it with a mod- government service complexes and permit. changing job. toughest fi nancial penalty against chairperson of Qatar Foundation for ernised, contract-based system. police stations throughout the coun- If the committee cannot contact an All foreign workers who wish to passport confi scation within the re- Education, Science and Community Under the new law, foreign workers try. expatriate’s employer within the 72 change jobs will also need to get the gion. Page 9 Development, along with a number have the right to leave the country after Once submitted, all Exit Permit re- hours, it will approve the request – of other dignitaries. Page 28 notifying the employer. quests received will be decided upon provided that the worker passes all rel- They have the right to permanently within 72 hours. evant background checks. AMERICA | Politics leave the country before or after com- Upon receipt, the Exit Permit Griev- In the event of an emergency, the Trump ‘leaving’ his pleting the duration of their contract, ances Committee will conduct an committee can expedite this timing. after notifying the employer according immediate background check of the The Exit Permit Grievances Com- Qatar’s FM holds talks businesses ‘in total’ to the terms of the contract. applicant to ensure that no active or mittee will consist of offi cials from the Donald Trump said yesterday that he If the employer rejects a leave re- pending criminal proceedings, or fi - Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of will step down from daily operations quest, the migrant worker can appeal nancial claims, are currently against Administrative Development, Labour with Italian counterpart at his businesses “in total” so he to the Exit Permit Grievances Com- them. & Social Aff airs, and representatives can focus on the US presidency. mittee, which has to respond to all re- During the 72-hour window for de- of the National Human Rights Com- QNA various spheres, especially in the fi eld The president-elect wrote on quests within three days. ciding upon the request, the commit- mittee. Rome of economic co-operation in addition Twitter that he will hold a “major” The applicant will be able to get an tee will look to contact the applicant’s In their hearings, the worker will to mutual support in international fo- press conference on the matter on Exit Permit unless he is wanted in con- employer. have the opportunity to contest any rums. December 15 in New York, at which nection with any active criminal pro- The employer will be asked if they evidence that may have been used atar’s Foreign Minister HE They also exchanged views on a his family will also be present. “I will ceedings, or has defaulted on any debt have any objection to the request. against them. Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdul- number of regional issues, particularly be leaving my great business in total in Qatar that remains unsettled. Valid objections may include: a) rea- Further, the worker will also have the Qrahman al-Thani held a session the situation in Libya.