Work conditions in Qatar

The Active Population in Figures

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration

8 hours of work per day, 6 days per week. During Ramadan working hours are generally reduced to 6 per day. If a worker works more than the allotted regular schedule, the employer is required to pay overtime pay. However regardless, the employee must not work more than 10 hours daily unless absolutely necessary. Friday is the rest day, unless the worker is a rotation shift worker.

Retirement Age

Qatari citizens employed by the government are eligible to receive a state pension at the age of 60.
Foreign citizens are not entitled to pension.

Working Contracts

Employment contracts can range from a limited period (with a maximum term duration of no more than five years) to an indefinite one. If any stipulations arise that are proven to go against the Qatar Labor Law then these shall be considered void unless said stipulations are for the benefit of the employee.

Labour Laws

Consult Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the labor regulations that apply to local entreprises.

Cost of Labour

Minimum Wage

A monthly minimum wage of QAR 1,800 per month (with allowances of at least QAR 300 and QAR 500 for food and accommodation respectively), has recently been introduced for all workers, of all nationalities, in all sectors (ILO, 2021).

Average Wage

The average annual salary is 11,183 Qatari riyals (ILO Global Wage Report 2020-21).

Social Contributions

Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: Employers are not required to pay Social Security Contributions for the foreign labor force they recruit.
According to Law No. (24) of 2002, employers are obliged to contribute to a pension fund in respect of Qatari workers at a rate of 10%.
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: The level of contribution is set at 5% of the employee's gross payroll.

Social Partners

Employer Associations

UMA - Uganda Manufacturers Association
FUE - Federation of Uganda Employers
Private Sector Foundation of Uganda - Private Sector Foundation of Uganda
FSME - Federation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises-Uganda
UNCCI - Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
USSIA - Uganda Small Scale Industries Association

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners

According to Qatari law, workers are allowed to form trade unions and professional associations. The formation of worker’s committees in various organizations is deemed permissible by law provided that no less than one hundred Qatari workers are part of such an organisation (Law n. 14 of 2004, art. 116). For more information, Qatar's labour laws are available online (ILO).

Labour Unions

International Trade Union Confederation

Unionisation Rate

Trade Unions were banned in 1957 as a result of larger worker strikes against the national Qatar Petroleum Company. They were reestablished by the Emir with the chapter 12 of Law n. 14 of 2004, however these regulations are hardly enforced.

Labour Regulation Bodies

Qatari Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs