Long-awaited changes to Qatar's ‘kafala’ labour law for foreign workers will come into force in December 2016.

The law reforming rules that oversee exit visas and work contracts in the gas-rich Gulf state were published in Qatar's official gazette.

The Arabic-language Al-Sharq reported that the changes will take effect on December 14 2016, 14 months after first being approved.

This is the first time a definitive date has been given for the new laws to come into force.