Doha: Employers in Qatar who fail to return workers' passports after completing residence permit issuance or renewal procedures may face fines of up to QR25,000, a Ministry of Interior official has reminded.

Speaking during a Ministry of Interior webinar, Head of the Detention Section at the Search and Follow-up Department, Major Saud Hamad Alburaydi, said employers must return passports to employees unless there is an agreement to retain them or a legal document signed by both parties authorising the arrangement.

The ministry's guidance lists failure to hand over passports after completing residency procedures as a legal violation and urges employers to return the documents to their employees. Major Alburaydi also advised employers to document employment contracts, complete residence permit procedures within the required timeframes, provide adequate accommodation for workers, and comply with regulations governing the employment of expatriates.

He further urged employers to approach the competent authorities to resolve employment-related issues, adding that workers whose passports are being withheld can seek assistance from the relevant authorities.

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