Qatar’s legal system is composed of two courts: the Shariah court that implements the Shariah Law, and the Adlia court which is the country’s civil court. The Qatar Labor Law is responsible for ensuring that employees get the benefits and rights they deserve, and all employers must follow this law.
The Qatar Labor Law covers a wide-range of labor-related concerns, including the following: end of service gratuity, working days, contract terms, regulations and contracts, and unions and committees.This article discusses a brief overview of Qatar’s Labor Law.
An Overview of the Many Aspects of Qatar’s Labor Law
Women in the Workplace
In Qatar, women who do the same kind of work as men receive the same salary. The Labor Law also prohibits women from work that requires dangerous and stressful work, as deemed by the Minister. Like most countries, female workers in Qatar enjoy 50 days of paid maternity leave, but only if she has worked for at least one year in the workplace.
Official Leaves
Some of the annual leaves available for workers in Qatar are the Eid El-Fitr leave, Eid Al-Adha leave, Independence day leave, and additional 3 working days of leave which will be given by the employer. For Both Eid El-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha, the leave is 3 days long, while the Independence day leave is for one day.
Working Hours
Normally, employers in Qatar work 48 hours per week, or 8 hours per day for six days. One exception is during the Ramadhan, where people work a limited 36 hours per week, or 6 hours per day for six days. If the option to work more hours is available, the employer must pay the employee with an amount that isn’t much less than the ordinary salary. However, any employee cannot exceed more than 10 hours per day of work.
Workplace Injuries
Injuries in the workplace will happen, despite how many precautionary measures are put up. That’s why it is important for both employers and employees to know their responsibilities when such unwanted incidents occur. The government has required employers to provide precautionary measures against potential work hazards, and prevents the employer from deducting from the employee’s salary any amount in exchange for the said protection. When an employee gets injured, disallowing him from continuing to perform his or her work, the government requires the employer to pay the employee in full or part.
These are just overviews of the Labor Laws available in Qatar. Indeed, Qatar has thoughtfully put these laws into place to protect the employers and employees, ensuring the country continues to have a robust labor force.