On February 21, the Qatar government announced that it had blacklisted 12 Kenyan agencies responsible for recruiting Kenyans seeking job opportunities in the Gulf country. Among the agencies suspended by the Qatari Minister for Labour and Social Services, Ali bin Samikh Al Marri included Starch, Anand, Sunrise, Dubai, Frame, Al Adam, Absher, Al Methaq, Resala, Altaaon, and Althabat. Qatari officials noted that the agencies had violated the law and that the operation was part of monitoring efforts to preserve the rights of employers of domestic workers. Consequently, the licenses of the 12 were revoked.