Egypt- A real crisis is threatening the future of Egyptian labour in Qatar, after the decision of their government and four Arab countries to sever diplomatic ties with Doha, in a surprise move that many believe will affect Egyptian employment there. Egypt declared the severance of its diplomatic ties with Qatar on Monday and the shutdown of all sea and air ports with Qatar for national security purposes. The statement did not specify the position of the Egyptians working in Qatar or Qataris in Egypt. Qatar also has not yet commented on the position of the Egyptians working in Qatar. Observers believe that the severance of diplomatic ties between Egypt and Qatar, will cast a negative impact on the conditions of Egyptian employment there. But at the same time, they ruled out that the Egyptians would be dismissed especially since most of them work in important positions in the Qatar. Foreign workers make up around 1.6 million of Qatars 2.5 million populations; the Egyptian community in Qatar is around 60 and 70 thousand citizens, making them one of the biggest foreign contingents in the Gulf country. Egypts Emigration and Expatriates Affairs Minister Nabila Makram said that Qatar authorities have not yet taken any measures against Egyptian workers.The decisions include withdrawing diplomatic missions from Doha, cutting off all sea and air movement to Qatar. Preventing the entry or transit of Qatari nationals into their countries, they have also ordered their citizens out of Qatar and given Qataris abroad 14 days to return home to their peninsular nation for security purposes.
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