Foreigners or expatriates working in Qatar

Expatriates, who dominate the Qatar's labor force, play a very important role in different sectors of the economy since the locals do not exceed more than 25% in a total estimated population of 550,000. The Indians constitute the largest expatriate group with an estimated population of 120,000 followed by Pakistanis, Filipinos, Bangladeshis and others.

The Ministry of Interior and the Labor Department of the Civil Service Diwan regulate recruitment of expatriate labor. The Qatari government has been taking up measures to balance the nationalities of the manpower recruited. It is also planning to develop its own human resources at different levels by encouraging the educationally and technically qualified youth to join the public and private sectors.

However, the large demand for foreign labor completely offsets the country's pace of Qatarisation.

Work Environment

Qatar's labor laws give preference in hiring first to Qataris, then to other Arabs, and finally to other foreigners. Foreign workers are strictly controlled. Their visas stipulate that they must work for a specific Qatari sponsor at a designated job. Foreigners are not permitted to own a business or a property in Qatar, except in partnership with a Qatari who owns more than 50%.

Compensation

Qatar offers highly competitive compensation packages that attract high skilled workers from around the world. The average wage of Qatar provides a decent standard of living for a worker and family.

Expatriate workers are normally given accommodation along with salaries, end of service benefits and return tickets to fly home every one or two years. However, no minimum wages are fixed by law and fixing of salaries and other perks is a matter of negotiation between the employer and the employee. Trade Unions are not acknowledged and strikes are considered illegal.

Minimum Wage

There is no minimum wage, although the law provides the Amir with authority to set one. (Section 6.e. Acceptable Conditions of Work, Qatar – Report of Human Rights Practices, 2001, U.S. Department of State)

Qatar is an income tax free country.

Minimum Age

The law provides that minors between the ages of 15 and 18 may be employed with the approval of their parents or guardians, and some children work in small, family-owned businesses. Minors may not work more than 6 hours a day or more than 36 hours a week.

Employers must provide the Labor Department with the names and occupations of their minor employees. Employers also must obtain permission from the Ministry of Education to hire a minor. The Department may prohibit the employment of minors in jobs that are judged dangerous to the health, safety, or morals of minors.  (See Section 6.d. Acceptable Conditions of Work, Qatar – Report of Human Rights Practices, 2001, U.S. Department of State.)

 Office Hours

 Standard Workweek

The law prescribes a 48-hour workweek with a 24-hour rest period, although most government offices follow a 36-hours-per-week work schedule.  Workweek is Saturday – Wednesday. See Section 6.e. Acceptable Conditions of Work, Qatar – Report of Human Rights Practices, 2001, U.S. Department of State.

 Employees who work more than 48 hours per week, or 36 hours per week during the Muslim month of Ramadan, are entitled to overtime pay. This law is adhered to in government offices and major private sector companies. It is not observed with respect to unskilled laborers and domestic and personal employees, all of whom, with scant exception, are foreigners. Many such workers frequently work 7 days per week, and more than 12 hours per day with few or no holidays, no overtime pay, and no effective way to redress grievances.

 Because the early afternoon is the hottest part of the day, offices and shops are usually open from 7:00 a.m. to noon and from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. or later. The Qatari weekend is Thursday and Friday rather than Saturday and Sunday.

 Acceptable Work Conditions 

The Government has enacted regulations regarding worker safety, but enforcement, which is the responsibility of the Ministry of Energy and Industry, is lax. The Department of Public Safety oversees safety training and conditions, and the state-run petroleum company has its own safety standards and procedures. The law lists partial and permanent disabilities for which compensation may be awarded, some connected with handling chemicals and petroleum products or construction injuries.

The law does not specifically set rates of payment and compensation. Workers who suffer work-related sickness or injuries receive free medical treatment provided by the Government. The law does not provide workers specifically the right to remove themselves from hazardous work conditions, and workers often hesitate to remove themselves from hazardous work conditions because of fear of dismissal.

On working in Qatar through Sponsorships

Foreign workers may enter the country on a visitor's visa, but a sponsor then is needed to convert the visitor's visa to a work visa and the worker must have his sponsor's permission to depart the country. The Government also penalizes citizen employers who severely violate residence and sponsorship laws by prohibiting them from importing labor until they rectify the situation. The law provides any worker with the right to seek legal relief from onerous work conditions; however, domestic servants generally do not pursue such relief in order to avoid repatriation. Employers mistreated some foreign domestic servants. Such mistreatment generally involves the nonpayment or late payment of wages; in some cases it involves rape and physical abuse (see Section 5).

Other Guidelines

• There are no trade unions, but workplace-based organizations, known as workers' committees, deal with grievances, and there is a labour court to help settle employment disputes. The government encourages Qataris to join the industrial work force. Nevertheless, at present, the majority of labourers and middle-level workers are still foreigners. 
• If a Qatari citizen's salary is below the level necessary to support a family, the government will provide assistance. Foreign workers are not permitted to bring their families to Qatar unless the government determines that their salaries are high enough to support a family. 
• Women make up 7% of the work force. Those who work outside the home are often employed as teachers, nurses or clerks. However, women are being encouraged to move into new areas, including politics. In 1999, six women ran for office in Qatar's first municipal election. None of the women won, but their participation in the election was an important breakthrough.
• Business Hours. The Government of Qatar's official working hours are 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM, Saturday through Thursday. Banking hours are 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM, while private sector hours are generally 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM, Saturday through Thursday. Friday is a day of rest for all sectors, including all embassies. The U.S. Embassy hours are 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Saturday through Wednesday. 
• Holidays. Officially, Qatar uses the Gregorian calendar year for all purposes. The Hijra (Islamic) calendar is also widely used. Religious holidays vary from year to year. Eid Al-Fitr (four days) marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and Eid Al-Adha marks the conclusion of the pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca. The only fixed holiday is: Independence Day - September 3. The months from October through April are generally considered the best period for foreign business representatives to visit Qatar. The summer months are very hot and humid. Decision makers in both public and private sectors can be expected to be absent from the country during some part of the period June to September. 
• Housing. It has been a common practice in Qatar for employers in both the Government and the private sector to provide furnished accommodation for their expatriate employees. Alternatively, some employers provide housing allowances. Contrary to the 1970s and the early 1980s when a small apartment fetched a rent of US$ 5000 a month, houses are now available at about half or less of this rate. This depends, of course, upon locality, type of house and facilities. At the most recent housing complexes, three-bedroom villas are available at a monthly rent of US$ 2200, and four-bedroom villas at US$ 2,700. Qatari landlords usually require a one year lease with advance payment of six months' rent, although exceptions exist. However, such arrangements, as well as the above rates, do not apply to larger single villas and palaces built for the use of higher management, bankers and leading businessmen. Electricity, water and gardens represent additional costs. In recent years, the lease contract in some cases has included a provision for the Qatari landlord to meet the cost of basic maintenance. House rents in 1996-97 witnessed a sharp increase due to strong demand from foreign oil/gas companies. 
• As you will be living in a Muslim country, all expats are asked to respect the country’s customs and to dress sensibly outdoors. Thin strapped tops or dresses and tight clothing may attract unwanted attention.

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