A/HRC/44/57/Add.33 Number of workers’ complaints for 2018 Statement Male Female Number of complaints presented to the Department of Labour relations (nationals) 47 26 Number of complaints presented to the Department of Labour relations (residents) 15, 637 1,653 Total number of complaints presented to the Department of Labour relations (residents, nationals) 15, 684 1, 679 (b) The State of Qatar abolished the Kafala system and fundamentally reformed the legal structure of labour relations since 2015, according to law number (21) on regulating the entry and exit of expatriates as well as their residency. This law was implemented after countless rounds of community consultations in order to engage all social partners and stakeholders. Articles (21) and (22) of the law outline situations of changing the employer by the expatriate worker, they are as follows: • The employee transferring to another employer before the end of the contract, with mutual consent between the employee and employer. • Transferring to another employer immediately after the expiry of the period of the contract, or after five years if the contract is indefinite. • Transferring to another employer in the case of the employer’s death, or the expiration of the legal person for whatever reason. • The expatriate worker can change the employer temporarily in case there are lawsuits between him and the employer. • The expatriate worker can change employer in the event that the employer proved to be abusive against him/her, or if public interest so requires. (c) The law provides that in the circumstances where the residence permit normally expires the expat worker can return to the State of Qatar directly to join a new job opportunity i.e. there is no need to wait for two years as before as was stated in the law No. (4) of 2009. (d) These measures aim to guarantee expatriate workers’ enjoyment of their civil rights without discrimination, particularly the rights to free movement and to leaving the country in accordance with article (12/2) of the International Covenant of the Civil and Political Rights, Article 5, para. (d) of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. (e) The Ministry of Administrative Development, labour and Social Affairs has launched an electronic mail service through which a worker can apply when he intends to move from one employer to another or in case when he wishes to leave Qatar for good. The Link is as follows: http:/e.notice. adisa.gov.qa/login.aspx? Return Ur1=%2 (f) Among practical effects of the application of the Law No. (21) on the right of a worker to change his employer are: establishment of an electronic system and administrative unit; changing the employer of 2309 employee despite objection by former employer; changing employer has become easier for employees who are issued work visas on certain projects, known as visa that restricts movement to other employer if certain conditions are available. (g) The following link displays pictures of the premises designated to presenting and following-up on the notification sent by the employee who is leaving his work to join another employer. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xv05fxmr4jms0ox/AACnEq8G6EBcDEwv0Xcgca4oa ?d1=0 7