M O R E
T H A N
J U S T
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G A M E
FEATURES
2006-2011, with over 400,000 arriving from all over Asia.
Because of its small native population, Qatar depends
greatly on migrant workers in a way similar that in which
the Spanish and Portuguese relied on Native American and
African populations during the colonial era. The shortage
of labor is a strong motivator for Qatar to keep workers,
keep them as long as possible, and, because there are so
many of them, give them the bare minimum to survive on.
A foreign worker can only come into the Arab Gulf
states through a kafeel, or sponsor. The entire system in
fact contradicts Qatari labor laws, and though it is supposed to provide a balance between the employers and the
employed, it places a disproportionate amount of power
in the hands of the employers and nationals of Qatar.
This connection between the employers and employed is
the core essence of the kafala system, but it is now being
criticized as slave-like and oppressive.
When a foreign worker arrives in Qatar, his or her
passport and travel documents are confiscated, so that
they cannot leave the country unexpectedly. This has led
to forced labor situations, where workers cannot leave the
country for an annual trip back to their home countries.
If they resist, then they can face the risk of deportation
and thus a loss of employment opportunities. Workers
also do not have the right to change sponsors, as it is not
mandated by law and requires the approval of the sponsor.
The law states that the kafeel has to pay for the worker’s medic