Resigning from a job can cause trouble to an employee especially if the employer refuses to accept the resignation. It can jeopardize your future employment opportunities and can reflect badly on your qualifications as a job seeker when your new employer conducts a background check on you.
To avoid these kinds of situation, you have to know what is the right and the legal course of action to take so as not to compromise your work and your stay in Qatar.
Employees should know their rights upon resignation or termination ©OTA Photos/Flickr
Qatar Employees: Know Your Rights When You Resign from Your Job (or When You’re Terminated from Your Company)
Under the Ministry of Administrative Development Labor & Social Affairs (MADLSA), Qatar Labour Law No (14) of 2004 shall apply to the employers and majority of the workers where their rights and obligations are prescribed.
Learn what the law says in case you decide to leave your job or are terminated from your company.
Article 49 of the Current Labour Law: Notice Period
Qatari labour law states that so long as the employee submitted a resignation letter that fulfill the criteria of the period of notice mentioned in the employment contract, he will not be at fault even if the employer refuses to accept the resignation.
Any of the two parties may terminate the contract without giving the reasons for the termination so long as notification shall be given in accordance with the following period (as stated in the Qatar Labour Law):
- If the period of service is less than one year, the notice shall be given at least one week.
- If the period of service is more than one year and less than five years, the notice shall be given at least two weeks.
- If the period of service is more than five years, the notice shall be given at least one month.
In respect of the workers who receive their wages annually or monthly, the notification shall be given not less than one month prior to the date of the termination. If the period of service is more than five years, the notification period shall be at least two months prior to the date of termination.
Article (50) of the Labour Law: Compensation upon Termination
In the event that the employee or the employer terminated the contract without prior notice, the party who terminates the contract has to pay the other party which is equivalent to the notice period or what’s remaining of it.
For the employer, they will be required to pay the worker his salary for the full notice period as long as the worker fulfills his obligations. And the employer, being the one terminating the contract, should also give the employee enough time to look for another job.
Article (51) of the Labour Law: When can employees terminate the contract
The Qatar labour law states that an employee can terminate a contract ©Government of Alberta/Flickr
Employees may not have the courage to terminate the contract, especially as they are in a foreign country, but the law states that a worker may terminate it before the contracts with a definite duration expires. And he can also terminate it without giving reasons for terminating it if the contract is with an indefinite duration. Terminating the contract with the following cases can give the employee his full right to attain the end of service gratuity.
The employee can terminate the contract with following cases as stated directly from the Qatar Labour Law:
- a) If the employer commits a breach of his obligations under the service contract or the provisions of this law.
- b) If the employer or his responsible manager commits a physical assault or immoral act upon the worker or any of his family member.
- c) If the employer or his representative has misled the worker at the time of entering into the service contract as to the terms and conditions of the work.
- d) If continuance with the work endangers the safety and health of the worker provided that the employer is aware of the danger and does not take the necessary steps to remove it.
When you are working in a foreign country, it is always necessary to know the country’s laws. It will equip you with knowledge about your rights and obligations as a foreign worker.
To know more about Qatar Labour Law, visit this site.
