The Thomson Reuters Foundation highlighted the measures taken by Qatar to reform the conditions of migrant workers, noting that despite these reforms, migrant workers continued to fear exploitation by employers.

Mr Sharif, who immigrated from Bangladesh to Doha and is supposed to be happy with Qatari reforms in labor laws, said he felt the country's system was intensifying employers' powers, enabling them to circumvent rules that prohibits exploiting workers, according the report.

“I don’t feel comfortable complaining because my company could fire me and I will get sent back home,” said the 22-year-old, who declined to give his full name.

“If I get sent back home, there will be nobody to help pay for my family,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Stung by allegations of migrant worker abuse and under increased scrutiny as it prepares to host the 2022 football World Cup, the gas-rich kingdom has put in place a series of safeguards over the past year.

These include setting a temporary monthly minimum wage of 750 riyals ($200) and creating a committee to resolve disputes.

Critics say the removal of the exit permit - part of the “kafala” employee sponsorship system used by a number of Gulf states - does not go far enough because migrant workers will still need their employers’ consent to change jobs.