Mol Initiatives Ease Family Residency Holders To Join Workforce

Doha, Qatar: Family residency holders in Qatar have a clear and regulated path to legally enter the labour market due to the efficient initiatives of the Ministry of Labour (MoL).

These initiatives offer practical and efficient solutions that allow family residency holders to contribute to the labour market. They also provide employers access to a skilled talent pool without the need to recruit from abroad.

Head of the Labor Contract Attestations Department at the Ministry of Labour Ghanem Rashid Al Ghanem, outlined two official procedures through which eligible family members-such as spouses and adult children of expatriate workers-can obtain legal work authorization.

Speaking to Qatar TV recently he said,“The first route involves applying for the“Join the Labour Market” service through the MoL's official online platform. This service enables eligible applicants to independently initiate the employment process. The second route allows either the family residency holder or a prospective employer to directly apply for a dedicated work permit.”

“To qualify for either option,” Al Ghanem explained,“the applicant must hold a valid Qatari ID, maintain an active residency status, be registered with the National Address system, and ensure that the phone number used in the application is registered under their name.”

He emphasised that employers also have specific obligations under the updated framework.“Any company wishing to employ a family residency holder must be fully compliant with Qatar's Labour Law. All applications must be submitted through the National Authentication System to ensure transparency and secure verification,” said Al Ghanem.

This initiative offers practical benefits both for residents and for employers. Many individuals living here as dependents have valuable skills and professional experience.

Instead of recruiting talent from abroad, employers now have the opportunity to tap into a capable workforce that is already present in the country.

Once a request is submitted-whether by the applicant or the employer-it undergoes a review by the Ministry of Labour to ensure it complies with all requirements.

If approved, the process proceeds with the authentication of the employment contract, the payment of associated fees, and the issuance of official approval to the Ministry of Interior. Finally, the residency status of the individual is updated from family sponsorship to employment-based residency.

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