The State of Qatar has issued Official Gazette No.14 of 2020, which contains a number of key developments for employers, noted below.

• Law No.17 of 2020 introduces a minimum wage of QAR 1,000 per month for all employees in Qatar and will enter into force in six months' time. In addition to providing at least the minimum wage to their employees, employers will be required to pay their employees at least QAR 300 per month as a food budget and QAR 500 per month as a housing budget, if such employers do not provide their employees with food and accommodation directly. This is a huge step forward in the protection of employee rights in Qatar.
• Law No.18 of 2020 amends some provisions of Law No.14 of 2004 (commonly known as the Labour Law) by providing that employees are now permitted change jobs before the end of their contract without having to obtain a no objection certificate. This is expected to add significantly to the mobility of the workforce in Qatar.
• Law No.19 of 2020 amends some provisions of Law No.21 of 2015 (which regulates the entry, exit and residence of expatriates in Qatar) by clarifying that for an employee to terminate their employment contract (in the absence of a different contractual position) and change employment, they must provide at least one month’s written notice (if they have been employed by the same employer for two years or less), or two months’ notice (if they have worked with the same employer for over two years). This provides some comfort to employers, whilst also enabling the mobility of the workforce in Qatar.

For further information please contact Ben Brown, Yannick Ramsamy and Alistair Stewart.