QNA
Ankara

H

is Highness the Amir Sheikh
Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani
yesterday discussed with Turk-
ish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
strategic bilateral co-operation in all
fi elds, particularly in the political, eco-
nomic, investment, defence, energy,
education, transport and sports fi elds.
The two leaders were attending the
sixth meeting of the Qatar-Turkey Su-
preme Strategic Committee held at the

presidential palace in Ankara.

The meeting also reviewed the out-

comes of previous sessions, and ways

to enhance the committee’s work to ad-

vance the interest of the two countries.

The sides also discussed the latest

regional and international develop-

ments including developments in Pal-

estine, Libya and Syria.

Later, the Amir and Erdogan witnessed

the signing of several memorandums of

understanding and agreements.

They include an MoU to purchase a

stake in Istinye Park shopping centre,

another between Qatar Investment

Authority and Altin Halic on potential

joint investment in the Golden Horn

project, a deal to purchase a stake in

Borsa Istanbul, an agreement selling

and purchasing Ortadogu Antalya port

between Global Liman and QTerminals,

and a memorandum of understanding

between Qatar Free Zones Authority

and the Turkish Ministry of Trade on

co-operating in free zones.

The two countries also signed a joint

statement on the establishment of a

joint economic and trade committee

between the Qatari Ministry of Com-

merce and Industry and the Turkish

Ministry of Trade, a memorandum

of understanding on co-operation in

managing water, a letter of intent be-

tween the Qatari Ministry of Finance

and the Turkish Ministry of Finance

and Treasury, a memorandum of un-

derstanding for co-operation in fam-

ily, women, and social services aff airs,

a declaration of intent on exchanging

diplomats between the Ministry of For-

eign Aff airs’ Diplomatic Institute and

the Diplomacy Academy of the Turkish

Ministry of Foreign Aff airs.

The signing ceremony was attended

by the members of the delegation ac-

companying the Amir and Turkey’s

ministers and ranking offi cials.

The Amir was given an offi cial reception

upon arrival at the presidential palace.

Later the Amir attended a luncheon

banquet held by Erdogan.

Meanwhile, the Amir and Erdogan

visited the Nation’s Library of the Pres-

idency in Ankara.

During the visit, they were briefed

about the library in terms of books, jour-

nals, and university dissertations, in ad-

dition to the electronic database of books.

The Amir later left Ankara.

He was seen off at Ankara Inter-

national Airport by Turkish Minister

of Finance and Treasury Lotfi Alwan,

spokesperson for the Turkish Presi-

dency Ibrahim Kalin, Qatar’s ambassa-

dor to Turkey Salem Mubarak Shafi al-

Shafi , Turkish ambassador to Qatar Dr

Mehmet Mustafa Gksu, and members

of the Qatari embassy.

The Amir sent a message to Erdogan

expressing his thanks and appreciation

for the warm hospitality.

The Amir wished the president good

health and continued success, and for

the Turkish people further progress

and prosperity. Page 3

T

he Government Communications Offi ce (GCO) has
announced that residents who are currently in Qatar,
and wish to travel and return to the country, will au-
tomatically receive an Exceptional Entry Permit upon depar-
ture with eff ect from Sunday, November 29.
Also, the quarantine period will be one week only after
arrival in the country, irrespective of where a person is
coming from, according to a statement issued by the GCO
yesterday.
The statement noted that in continuation of the gradual
lifting of restrictions imposed in Qatar as a result of the
Covid-19 pandemic, and based on public health indicators
in the country and around the world, as well as on Qatar’s
travel policy announced previously, the following has been
decided:
z First: Residents who are currently in Qatar, and wish to
travel and return, will automatically receive an Exceptional
Entry Permit upon departure. The resident or their employer
will be able to print out the Exceptional Entry Permit from
the Ministry of Interior’s website at any point after the resi-
dent has departed Qatar.
Requests will no longer need to be submitted through the
Qatar Portal website. The permit will be available automati-
cally upon registration of the resident’s departure from Qa-
tar. To Page 4

GULF TIMES

published in

Q ATA R

since 1978

FRIDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11745

November 27, 2020

Rabia II 12, 1442 AH

http://www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Defence minister meets US offi cial

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah met yesterday

with US Acting Secretary of Defence Christopher Miller, who was visiting Qatar. During the meeting, they discussed

military relations between the two countries, in addition to the latest regional and international developments. The

meeting was attended by armed forces senior off icials, and the delegation accompanying the US off icial. Page 4

zAmir, Erdogan attend sixth meeting of the Qatar-Turkey Supreme Strategic Committee

Qatar, Turkey sign pacts to cement ties

QVCs in India to reopen on Dec 3

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has an-

nounced that Qatar Visa Centres (QVCs)

in India will reopen next Thursday,

December 3. Appointments to visit any

QVC in India can be made through

the designated website (https://www.

qatarvisacenter.com/), the MoI tweeted

yesterday.

z From Sunday, Exceptional Entry

Permits to be automatically generated

for residents who wish to travel out of

the country and return

z Requests will no longer need to be

submitted through Qatar Portal website

z Automatic Exceptional Entry Permit

service will not be available for residents

who are currently outside Qatar

z Quarantine period will be one week

only after arrival in Qatar, regardless of

where one is coming from

z Quarantine period for those who use

shared quarantine facilities will be 2 weeks

‘Automatic entry permits’

for ‘residents’ from Sunday

Employers’ views on job change requests will be heard: offi cial

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inspect a guard of honour in Ankara yesterday. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani holds talks with Erdogan.

Qatar 2022 World

Cup will transform

attitude towards

sustainability:

al-Thawadi

BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1

New investment

avenues opening

up in Qatar on Covid

handling success, says

QFCA chief al-Jaida

MADLSA assistant undersecretary

Mohamed Hassan al-Obaidli

By Ayman Adly
Staff Reporter

T

here will be a one-year ban on a
worker who violates the clauses
of his employment contract, if
he wishes to return to Qatar to take up
another job, a senior offi cial of the Min-
istry of Administrative Development,
Labour and Social Aff airs (MADLSA)

told Qatar TV yesterday.

Assistant undersecretary Moham-

ed Hassan al-Obaidli explained that

the amendments to the Labour Law

are part of the development strategy

within Qatar National Vision 2030 to

encourage foreign investment, attract

skilled workers and maintain economic

development.

He clarifi ed that the text of a recent SMS

sent by MADLSA regarding the transfer of

workers from a company to another has

been misinterpreted and misunderstood,

creating unnecessary issues.

“This SMS only means that a worker

has submitted an application for trans-

fer and it is under study and review by

the Ministry. We have now rephrased

the SMS making it clear for the em-

ployee and employer.

“The rephrased SMS says that a

worker has submitted an application

for transfer, it is under review and study

and he has to remain in his current job

with the current employer until the ap-

plication is processed. The employer

has the right to submit his queries and

remarks on this through e-mail or the

hotline that would be launched.”

Al-Obaidli stressed that the new la-

bour law has many advantages for em-

ployers.

“For instance, the employer can termi-

nate a contract with a specifi ed duration

before it expires without the need to pay

the worker for the remaining period.

“In the previous law, the employer

was obliged in such cases to pay all the

dues of the worker for the remaining

period of the contract.

For those who want to change em-

ployers, “the new company has to be

fully compliant with the Labour Law

and Wage Protection System and have

an approval for an entry work Visa for

the same nationality of the worker who

wishes to join. To Page 4

zOne year ban on workers who violate employment contract terms

z‘SMS’ rephrased to provide clarity on job change applications

zHotline to be launched to help employers raise concerns