A French footballer's struggle to leave Qatar has highlighted the controversial "kafala" system giving sponsors control over foreign workers' lives in the country that will host the 2022 World Cup.
Zahir Belounis was able to finally depart Doha last week after being stranded for a year as his club Al-Jaish had refused to grant him an exit permit over a pay dispute.
Human rights organisations have repeatedly criticised the kafala sponsorship system that is applied in most Gulf countries, but with stricter conditions in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
"Such systems make abuse and exploitation more likely," said James Lynch, researcher on migrant workers in the Gulf at Amnesty International.
People who discover recruitment agencies have deceived them about their work conditions once they arrive in the Gulf have no way to switch jobs without their sponsor's consent, Lynch said. Full story...
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Zahir Belounis was able to finally depart Doha last week after being stranded for a year as his club Al-Jaish had refused to grant him an exit permit over a pay dispute.
Human rights organisations have repeatedly criticised the kafala sponsorship system that is applied in most Gulf countries, but with stricter conditions in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
"Such systems make abuse and exploitation more likely," said James Lynch, researcher on migrant workers in the Gulf at Amnesty International.
People who discover recruitment agencies have deceived them about their work conditions once they arrive in the Gulf have no way to switch jobs without their sponsor's consent, Lynch said. Full story...
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