DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The U.N. labor organization said Thursday that Qatar has abolished exit visa requirements for virtually all migrant workers, hailing the move as a “milestone” in reform efforts ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The International Labor Organization said a ministerial decree allows nearly all migrant workers in Qatar to leave the country without first obtaining permission from their employers. The exit visas were part of the “kafala” system, which critics say restricts workers' rights and leads to abuses. Qatar changed its labor laws in October 2018 to remove the need for most private sector workers to obtain exit permits. The latest legislation expands those rights to domestic workers and those working in the public sector, the oil and gas industry, those employed at sea and those working in agriculture.

Source: International New York Times January 16, 2020 09:22 UTC