In Qatar, there are a set of rules that govern employment. They are contained in the labour law Qatar. Thus, both employees and employers must be aware of the provisions outlined in it before making any employment decision.
In this article, you are going to learn more about labor law in Qatar. Moreover, you will gain valuable insight into some of its important provisions such as minimum wages, employment contracts, termination, and more. Let us observe:
- What is the labour law Qatar?
- Recent changes to the Qatar labour law
- See what the labour law Qatar says about Employment contracts
- Fundamentals about minimum wages in the labour law Qatar
- Understanding employment leaves according to Qatar labour laws
- Here we have everything about overtime and working hours in Qatar
- All about termination based on the labor law Qatar
- Penalties for violating the labour law
1. What is the labour law Qatar?
Qatar is a prosperous country that has been receiving thousands of expatriates. Due to its expanding economy and strong infrastructure, more and more foreign professionals feel attracted to look for a job to reside in this place.
For this reason, the Qatari Government has been developing a labour law that allows them to control all aspects of employment. Thus, this way both employers and employees are protected.
Also, the local government aims to ensure the welfare of both national and expatriate workers. And, this is why they have been issuing regulations that ensure an efficient employment system.
In this regard, the labour law Qatar is a set of rules that cover several aspects of employment. So, it has the responsibilities, legal rights, and constraints that employers and employees must follow.
Therefore, all parties involved in employment must follow the labour law Qatar. This means that the following are subject to the labour law Qatar:
- Independent contractors.
- Employees.
- Dependent contractors.
2. Recent changes to the Qatar labour law
Even though any labour policy may seem imperfect, the Qatari Government has made some changes to the Labour Law. This is intended to protect the safety and well-being of migrant workers in the private sector.
Thus, the previous law has been replaced by the regulations issued in the new law.
This is because the government is making few changes but constantly. So, some new provisions may arise in the qatar labour law 2021 as well as in the Qatar labor law 2020.
Consequently, some of Qatar new rules today are the following:
- Workers are not required to request an exit permit if they are planning to leave Qatar.
- New procedures make the process of switching jobs easier for employees. For example, they no longer need a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
- Established a new minimum wage that should not discriminate.
- Protect worker exploitation.
- Introduced new programs such as the Worker’s Support and Insurance Fund.
3. See what the labour law Qatar says about Employment contracts
Employment contract Qatar is covered by labour law. This means that employers must provide a valid and compliant employment contract to their employees.
The contract must outline the terms of work, and both parties must agree on what it is contained.
Some of the information employers must include in the employment contract are the following:
- Job title.
- Responsibilities.
- Personal data.
- Start and end date of employment.
- Duration of the notice period.
- Annual leave.
- Salary.
- Benefits and Compensation.
And, as per the probation period, it cannot exceed six months.
3.1 Do you know the types of contracts in Qatar?
In Qatar there are two types of labour contracts:
- Fixed-term contract: this contract has a set end date. The employee will work until that date for the company. Generally, these contracts may be for two to five years.
- Indefinite contract: as its name implies, it is an open-ended contract. Therefore, the employee must work for the employer indefinitely, until any of the parties decides to terminate it with a valid reason.
In some countries, these contracts are most commonly known as limited and unlimited contracts.
4. Fundamentals about minimum wages in the labour law Qatar
When it comes to the minimum wage, the qatar labour law basic salary states that all employees must earn a minimum of QAR 1,000 per month. Thus, this means that employers must pay this amount or more to their employees, but no less.
It is worth noting that this new minimum wage regulation was issued on September 8, 2020; and it was effective since March 2021.
Also, the law indicates that the minimum monthly allowance for accommodation is QAR 500. And, the minimum monthly allowance for food is QAR 300.
This new minimum wage law in Qatar will allow to ensure stability in the labour market and ensure growth.
5. Understanding employment leaves according to Qatar labour laws
Employees in Qatar are entitled to several types of leaves under the Qatar labor law. Some of them are the following:
- Sick leave: as per the new labour law in Qatar, employees that have been working for the same employer for more than 3 months are entitled to sick leave. They have to submit a medical certificate and they can obtain a two-week fully paid sick leave. After that period, they can request additional 4 weeks on half wages, and any further extension is unpaid.
- Public holidays: employees in Qatar enjoy 8 public holidays.
- Annual leave: employees are entitled to an annual leave of three weeks. If they have been working for more than 5 years for the company, they can take a leave of four weeks.
- Maternity leave: female employees can take a 50-day fully paid maternity leave.
- Paternity leave: although there are no provisions for paternity leave in Qatar, most employees may grant a father 3 to 5 days of paid leave.
6. Here we have everything about overtime and working hours in Qatar
According to Qatar labor, here we have some of the most important considerations regarding working schedules:
- Working hours: Generally, an employee in Qatar works 8 hours per day, for a total of 48 hours per week. Nonetheless, this may vary depending on the type of work schedule, like shift employees.
- Rest day: As per the weekly rest day, all employees take Friday to rest.
- Work during holidays: If an employee has to work on a holiday, he or she must receive the payment of an additional 50% of the basic wage and a day off.
- Working hours during Ramadan: during Ramadan, the working week is reduced to 36 hours. Thus, employees must work six hours per day. And, they can get one or more breaks.
Overtime work is defined in the law as the hour when the employee works outside the regular working hours. Employees cannot work more than 2 extra hours per day.
The employee that works overtime must receive additional payment as per the following:
- The rate for overtime work: the employee receives the standard wage plus a 25% bonus, as a minimum, for each extra hour worked.
- Overtime rate between 9 pm-4 am: the employee receives the standard wage plus a 50% bonus.
- Overtime rate during rest day: the employee receives the standard wage plus a 150% bonus.
7. All about termination based on the labor law Qatar
Contract termination is a complicated topic when it comes to employment. According to the law, any of the parties can terminate a contract in Qatar.
However, they must comply with valid reasons. For example, the employer cannot terminate an employee without cause.
But the main difference relies on the fact that the contract is definite or indefinite. If the definite contract is near its end date, the employee may submit a non-renewal letter to the employer to inform that he or she does not want to continue working.
And, if the contract is indefinite, any of the parties can terminate it but they have to comply with the notice period. As per the new Qatar labour law, the notice period is as follows:
- Employees with less than 2 years of service: one month’s notice.
- Employees with more than 2 years of service: two months’ notice.
Also, employees in Qatar can get an employment contract copy online easily. This way they can check the terms before taking any actions such as resigning.
7.1 NOCs are no longer required in Qatar
Employees that want to switch jobs, do not have to submit a NOC to their existing employer. Thus, they can search for a new job opportunity with more privacy.
8. Penalties for violating the labour law
The labour law in Qatar is very important. The government takes very seriously the fact that employers and employees must comply with it.
In this regard, there are penalties for violating the Labour Statute. Fines range from QAR 2,000 to QAR 100,000. And, in some cases, the fines can be doubled due to repeated offences. Moreover, in some extreme situations, the penalty may be one year in prison.
Therefore, it is crucial to understand the regulations and follow them properly.
If you want to learn more about Qatar, you have to visit our blog. We have important guides such as how to check a Qatar visa online or how to use the ministry of labour Qatar website.
