Qatar forced to reform restricting labor rights

Qatar has been pressured into developing new labor rights after preparations for the 2022 World Cup revealed restrictive and poor employment conditions, especially for foreign workers.

For example, workers could not change jobs without their employer's permission, they were not aloud to gather in trade unions and there was no minimum wage. There are even some cases where employees were not given enough food or water.

Since 2010, some 1,200 construction workers have died on sites.

Qatar leaders now promise to change the current situation by introducing new labor rights: 'These new proposals give a flexibility for the employee to move from one employer to the other through a work contract, it also gives the employee the flexibility to leave the country and the law would increase financial punishments on any employer who prevents his workers from keeping their own passports,' said Mohammed al Ateeq from the Ministry of Interior.

However, the Human Rights group reported that these changes are limited and don't include such issues as minimum wage or trade unions.