Health card What exactly does a health card do? Based on what your writer has read, emergency treatment would be free in public hospitals on presentation of a health card. Further consultations, tests, medication, and in-patient care are payable at nominal, subsidised rates. Immediately, additional questions arise, and they are important, but they are outside the scope of this article: Are the subsidised rates affordable to low-wage migrant workers? Are employers required to buy medical insurance for workers? If they are required, what is the rate of compliance by employers? Are there minimum standards for extent of insurance coverage? Even if the employer has bought insurance, what hurdles before a worker can access the insurance bene ts? Haven’t found a new job? You have 90 days Most migrant workers with low salaries would probably line up a new job before they give notice to the existing employer, but it is possible to resign without rst having secured a new job. This may prove more common than anticipated because a twomonth notice period (for workers who have served more than two years with their current employer) is quite an impediment to changing jobs. In such an instance (i.e. resigning without a new job in hand), while the Work Permit will be cancelled after the notice period has been served out, the residency permit will remain live for 90 days more. This gives the worker 90 days to look for a new job. However, housing, food, etc, will become the worker’s own responsibility during those 90 days. Other changes and features of the Qatari system for migrant labour Qatar also instituted a minimum wage with the latest changes. It will be described in the next article: Qatar sets minimum wage; Singapore still intoxicated on cheap labour.