AFP, Doha :
Despite claims of its imminent demise, Qatar’s controversial “kafala” sponsorship system-which critics say is a direct cause of misery and abuse for many foreign workers-clings stubbornly to life.
On Monday, in a sign of how entrenched the issue has become, Qatar’s normally quiet government used its new communications office to make a rare public statement and reassure critics that change to the system, which limits the rights of movement for foreign workers, really is on the way.
“The Council of Ministers will now prepare the final draft of the kafala reform legislation, which is expected to be completed before the end of 2015,” a statement read.
That deadline echoed an earlier wish by the minister of labour and social affairs, Abdullah bin Saleh al-Khulaifi, that “kafala”-likened by some critics to modern-day slavery-would be consigned to history by the end of the year.
Others are not so confident, however.
“I don’t think there’s any chance whatsoever that we will see an announcement in 2015,” Human Rights Watch’s Gulf Researcher Nicholas McGeehan told AFP.
The December deadline is not the first that Qatar has announced. Last November, the labour and social affairs ministry said it would make an announcement on scrapping “kafala” early in 2015.
That deadline passed but the ministry then said it hoped to announce the end of “kafala” early in May. That has now slipped to December.
