Residents face QR10,000 fine for not carrying ID

By Joseph Varghese/Staff Reporter

All residents should always carry their Residence Permit ID Cards or proof of residence and should produce it whenever asked by authorities concerned, said Brig Nasser Mohamed Eisa al-Sayed, director, Search and Follow-Up Department, during a community interaction seminar held at the headquarters of the Traffic department on Sunday.

Those who violate the rule will be fined up to QR10,000. Brig al-Sayed also said that the Ministry of Interior can transfer the sponsorship of expatriates, if they proved that they were abused by sponsors as per the Law No 4/2009.

Addressing various community leaders in Qatar, Brig al-Sayed said that the Ministry of Interior would publish guides on rights and obligations of expat workers in different languages. He pointed out: “We spend maximum efforts in providing proper help and solve the problems of expats without any discrimination as all are equal before law.  All expats irrespective of their identity and culture shall abide by the rules of the county.”

Specifying some of the rules and regulations, the official said that the use of private vehicles as taxis was a clear violation of the traffic law. He said: “Fines will be levied upon the offenders. It may also lead to deportation as the person violates the purpose of residence permit given to him, which is a clear violation of Residence Law No 4/2009.”

He further said that sheltering workers and housemaids who abscond from their employers is a crime. He said: “Violators of this rule will be dealt with strictly to eliminate the issue of absconding. Providing shelter for absconding workers is punishable as per Qatari Penal Code with imprisonment not exceeding two years and fine of maximum QR 10,000 or any one of them.”

The official added that if a person engages in selling items at public places or on streets on his own, it is a crime. “This is in violation of Article 11 of Residential Law No 4/2009 which stipulates that one should stick to the purpose of residence permit. He has to work for his sponsor and should not work on his own,” he added.

Brig al-Sayed observed that if any sponsor refuses exit permit to any worker or if the sponsor is out of country and nobody is there to represent him, the Search and Follow-up Department (SFD) has some legal procedures that will ensure the travel of a migrant worker.

He explained: “If any expatriate faces a problem from his sponsor with regard to getting the exit permit for him, the SFD will study the application to get an exit permit to allow him leave the country temporarily or permanently and the department will implement the rules and regulations in this matter.”

Further to this, al-Sayed highlighted that the violators of the law No 4/2009 who voluntary surrender to SFD for leaving the country, will never be detained and will be sent back home without detention after completing the procedures.

“If an expatriate, against whom an absconding complaint has been registered, approaches us with an application, we will study it without arresting him. We will facilitate the violators for reconciliation and payment of reconciliation fine instead of taking legal procedures against them,” he added.