<p class="title">Long-awaited reform of Qatar's controversial exit visa system, which requires foreign workers to obtain their bosses' permission to leave the country, came into force on Sunday, the government said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Law No. 13 of 2018... regulating the entry, exit and residency of expatriates are being implemented starting today," the interior ministry announced on Twitter.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Qatar announced in September it had approved legislation to scrap the visa system -- a lynchpin of the country's "kafala", or sponsorship, system which many liken to modern-day slavery.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Under the new law, all but five per cent of a company's workforce -- reportedly those in the most senior positions -- can leave without prior permission from employers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Those not allowed to leave Qatar "for any reason" can file a complaint to the Expatriate Exit Grievance Committee that will "take a decision within three working days", the ministry said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Scrapping the exit permit is the biggest announcement made so far since Qatar agreed last November to enter into a three-year agreement with the UN's International Labour Organisation to oversee reform.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The football World Cup 2022 host has come under intense pressure to reform its labour laws, which have been repeatedly denounced by human rights groups.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Critics have long argued for the abolition of the exit visa system. Research published last year by rights group Migrant-Rights.org found around a quarter of all exit visa requests were denied by the government.</p>.<p class="bodytext">There are some two million foreign workers in Qatar.</p>
<p class="title">Long-awaited reform of Qatar's controversial exit visa system, which requires foreign workers to obtain their bosses' permission to leave the country, came into force on Sunday, the government said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Law No. 13 of 2018... regulating the entry, exit and residency of expatriates are being implemented starting today," the interior ministry announced on Twitter.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Qatar announced in September it had approved legislation to scrap the visa system -- a lynchpin of the country's "kafala", or sponsorship, system which many liken to modern-day slavery.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Under the new law, all but five per cent of a company's workforce -- reportedly those in the most senior positions -- can leave without prior permission from employers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Those not allowed to leave Qatar "for any reason" can file a complaint to the Expatriate Exit Grievance Committee that will "take a decision within three working days", the ministry said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Scrapping the exit permit is the biggest announcement made so far since Qatar agreed last November to enter into a three-year agreement with the UN's International Labour Organisation to oversee reform.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The football World Cup 2022 host has come under intense pressure to reform its labour laws, which have been repeatedly denounced by human rights groups.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Critics have long argued for the abolition of the exit visa system. Research published last year by rights group Migrant-Rights.org found around a quarter of all exit visa requests were denied by the government.</p>.<p class="bodytext">There are some two million foreign workers in Qatar.</p>