The Qatari Interior Ministry set a December 13 deadline for all workers who have violated residence regulations to leave the country before the application of the new labor law.

All illegal workers can now leave the country freely without any legal responsibilities before the new law comes into force on December 14, according to a report sent by the labor counselor of the Egyptian Embassy in Doha to Manpower Minister Mohamed Saafan.

The grace period is given to all illegals regardless of their nationality, the report said.

Illegal workers who will stay after the application of the new law will face a three-year jail sentence and a fine of 50,000 riyals.

Qatar's law number 21 will regulate the entry, exit and residence of expatriates. It will replace the Kafala (sponsorship) system with a contract-based system.

It will also cancel exist permit system.

It will also cancel the two-year ban required for an expatriate worker to return to the country to take up a new job after his departure.

He can now return two or three days after his departure.

Source: MENA