Qatar has urged global partners to strengthen migration systems through expanded legal channels, improved protection standards, and coordinated accountability, highlighting recent domestic labour reforms and commitments to international frameworks at the Second International Migration Review Forum.
Qatar has urged governments to step up international cooperation on migration by widening lawful routes, tightening protection standards and improving accountability across the system, as it set out its position at the Second International Migration Review Forum in New York. The country said regular migration channels should be treated as forward-looking policy tools, not simply as a fallback to irregular movement, in a context where climate pressure and changing labour markets are reshaping cross-border work. According to the United Nations, the Global Compact for Migration is built around 23 objectives designed to support safe, orderly and regular migration while reducing the harms linked to irregular flows.
The Qatari delegation also argued that protection must run from recruitment in countries of origin through to return and reintegration, with stronger links between labour rules, residency systems and anti-trafficking enforcement. It called for a more coordinated international framework and for progress under the compact to be measured through clearer indicators and regular review. That emphasis mirrors the compact’s own cooperative model, which was designed as a non-binding framework for states to share responsibilities and policy tools.
Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Qatar’s undersecretary of labour, said the country was committed to practical and measurable progress in migration governance and was ready to work with international partners on strengthening national systems. Qatar pointed to domestic labour reforms it says have already been introduced, including the removal of exit permit requirements and the introduction of a non-discriminatory minimum wage, which the International Labour Organization has described as a regional first.
The state also highlighted visa centres in countries of origin, expanded complaint and redress mechanisms, and wider labour oversight and legal accountability measures. It said these steps are part of an integrated model linking labour, migration, residency, law enforcement and anti-trafficking efforts. Qatar added that it intends to keep working with the International Labour Organization, the International Organization for Migration and governments in countries of origin to improve labour relations and migration governance.
Source Reference Map
Inspired by headline at: [1]
Sources by paragraph:
– Paragraph 1: [2], [3]
– Paragraph 2: [2], [4]
– Paragraph 3: [5], [6]
– Paragraph 4: [1], [5], [6]
Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://www.gccbusinessnews.com/qatar-global-cooperation-migration-policy/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.un.org/en/migration2022/global-compact-for-migration – The United Nations’ Global Compact for Migration is the first intergovernmentally negotiated agreement covering all dimensions of international migration. It aims to facilitate safe, orderly, and regular migration while reducing the incidence and negative impact of irregular migration through international cooperation and a combination of measures put forward in the Compact. The Compact comprises 23 objectives, each containing commitments and actions considered relevant policy instruments and best practices to achieve safe, orderly, and regular migration along the migration cycle.
- https://www.qna.org.qa/en/News-Area/News/2026-5/9/qatar-affirms-development-of-integrated-labour-policy-system – At the Second International Migration Review Forum in New York, Qatar urged the global community to prioritise three pivotal areas to advance migration governance. Central to Qatar’s approach is the strategic expansion of regular migration pathways, advocating for them to be embraced as proactive policy instruments rather than mere reactive alternatives to irregular migration. Qatar emphasised that countries investing in comprehensive migration governance today will secure a decisive competitive advantage amid the transformative impacts of climate change and technological innovation on global labour markets.
- https://www.qatar-tribune.com/article/233278/nation/qatar-affirms-development-of-integrated-labour-policy-system/amp – Qatar has urged the global community to prioritise three pivotal areas to advance migration governance at the Second International Migration Review Forum in New York. Central to Qatar’s approach is the strategic expansion of regular migration pathways, advocating for them to be embraced as proactive policy instruments rather than mere reactive alternatives to irregular migration. Qatar emphasised that countries investing in comprehensive migration governance today will secure a decisive competitive advantage amid the transformative impacts of climate change and technological innovation on global labour markets.
- https://www.mofa.gov.qa/en/qatar/latest-articles/latest-news/details/1443/10/20/qatar-affirms-its-intention-to-continue-its-contributions-to-enhance-cooperation-on-international-migration – The State of Qatar affirmed its intention to continue its contributions to enhance cooperation on international migration, and its keenness to continue its role as a vital and effective partner in international efforts to implement the vision and objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, based on its national principles based on respect, promotion and protection of human rights. This came in the State of Qatar’s statement delivered by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, before the first International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), held under the auspices of the United Nations General Assembly.
- https://www.ilo.org/resource/article/dismantling-kafala-system-and-introducing-minimum-wage-mark-new-era-qatar – In a historic move, the State of Qatar has introduced major changes to its labour market, ending the requirement for migrant workers to obtain their employer’s permission to change jobs, while also becoming the first country in the region to adopt a non-discriminatory minimum wage. Following the adoption on 30 August 2020 of Law No. 19 of 2020, migrant workers can now change jobs before the end of their contract without first having to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer. This new law, coupled with the removal of exit permit requirements earlier in the year, effectively dismantles the “kafala” sponsorship system and marks the beginning of a new era for the Qatari labour market.
- https://www.gcmigration.org/projects-campaigns/compact/ – The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration is a non-legally binding cooperative framework that articulates a common set of commitments, on the basis of 23 objectives, for States to respond to the challenges and opportunities of contemporary international migration. As agreed at the September 19 Summit on Refugees and Migrants, and expressed in the New York Declaration coming out of the Summit, UN Member States will develop a Global Compact for Safe, Regular and Orderly Migration by September 2018. In the New York Declaration, states committed to “reaffirm, and… fully protect, the human rights of all refugees and migrants, regardless of status.”
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score: 8
Notes: The article was published on 10 May 2026. Similar content was published by Qatar News Agency (QNA) on 9 May 2026, detailing Qatar’s contributions to international migration cooperation. (qna.org.qa) The QNA article is the earliest known publication of this narrative. The GCC Business News article appears to be a republished version of the QNA content, with minimal original reporting. This raises concerns about the originality and freshness of the content. The reliance on a press release from QNA, a state-run news agency, suggests a lack of independent reporting. This typically warrants a lower freshness score.
Quotes check
Score: 6
Notes: The article includes direct quotes attributed to Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Qatar’s undersecretary of labour. These quotes are identical to those found in the QNA article published on 9 May 2026. (qna.org.qa) The identical wording suggests that the quotes may have been reused without independent verification. The lack of independent sources for these quotes raises concerns about their authenticity.
Source reliability
Score: 5
Notes: The article originates from GCC Business News, a niche publication. The content appears to be a republished version of a QNA press release, indicating a lack of independent reporting. The reliance on a state-run news agency for sourcing further diminishes the perceived reliability of the information.
Plausibility check
Score: 7
Notes: The claims made in the article align with Qatar’s known positions on international migration cooperation. However, the lack of independent verification and the reliance on a single source raise questions about the accuracy and completeness of the information presented.