Last October, Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, issued Law No. 21 of 2015, regulating the entry and exit of repatriates and their residency.

The laws will come to effect on 2016 December, reports say.

Migrant workers cannot change jobs or leave the country without their employer's permission under this system.

The new rules will allow foreign workers who want to leave Qatar to apply for permission from the interior ministry at least 72 hours beforehand.

If permission is initially denied, employees seeking to leave the country can complain to a grievance committee, which will be established under the new law.

Last year's changes also allow foreign workers to switch jobs at the end of a fixed-term contract.