Parliament Backs Committee to Check Expats’ Degrees

An urgent proposal to create a committee to review and verify the university degrees of expats working in ministries and other government bodies won backing in Parliament on Tuesday, with legal action sought where forged qualifications are confirmed.

The motion calls for a single committee to check credentials held by expats employed on permanent and temporary contracts across the public sector, and to refer cases for legal steps when fraud is proven.

MP Khaled Buanaq, one of the sponsors, said the proposal followed a run of reports about professional forgery groups. He cited recent claims of counterfeit university degrees being produced with stamps, covering different levels and specialisms, including technical, vocational, medical and scientific fields.

He said the committee would link the work of the Ministries of Education, Labour, Justice and Interior, so information can be shared and qualifications checked against recognised standards through one process, rather than separate checks by each body.

Buanaq said the committee would also draft clear rules and open procedures for checks, to reduce differing treatment of doubtful cases and give clearer ground for institutions and individuals.

The proposal was submitted by Buanaq alongside MPs Ahmed Qarata, Zainab AbdulAmeer, Hisham Al Awadhi and Mohammed Al Maarafi.