The State of Qatar has announced it will replace the current sponsorship – or kafala – system for foreign workers with a system based on employment contracts to strengthen existing labour laws in time for the 2022 World Cup.

The reforms follow heavy scrutiny of working conditions in the country, attracting international focus ahead of the World Cup.

Data from the Global Wellness Tourism Congress (GWTC) – undertaken by SRI International – predicts the Middle East/North African tourism market is set to experience market expansion from US$5.3bn (€3.8bn, £3.1bn) in 2012 to US$16.6bn (€11.9bn, £9.8bn) in 2017. With an expected addition of one million wellness trips to UAE from 2012 to 2017, the states will be focusing on the transparency of their employee relations.

Illegal passport confiscation will be penalised, employers will no longer be financially liable for their employee and if an employment contract is for a fixed term, employees will be able to transfer to another employer at the end of that term. This is contrary to the current system of No Objection Certificates, which regulates the transfer of employees to different employers.

An automated system which is connected to the state’s Ministry of Interior will replace the current exit permit system which currently requires the employer’s consent for an employee to leave the country.

Designed to improve the living and working conditions of all employees, the ‘Metrash2’ e-government system will automatically grant an exit permit to an employee after a 72-hour grace period prior to departure.

Wages will be paid electronically to ensure transparency and a unified accommodation standard has been adopted by the government to ensure the quality of housing for all workers.