Workers' Rights
Labour Law protections covering wages, working hours, leave, workplace safety, and end-of-service benefits under Qatar national law.
Covered in this guide:
Your job in Qatar is covered by Law No. 14 of 2004 (Labour Law). Wages must be paid through the Wage Protection System within 7 days of the pay period. Standard hours are 8 a day, 48 a week, dropping to 6 during Ramadan. End-of-service gratuity is 3 weeks' basic pay per year. Since Law No. 13 of 2018 and Law No. 17 of 2020, you can change jobs without an NOC and earn the QAR 1,000 universal minimum wage. Disputes go to the Workers' Dispute Resolution Committees within 3 weeks. QFC employers run a separate regime.
Key Laws
Law No. 14 of 2004
Labour Law (as amended by Law No. 18 of 2020)
Core employment protections — contracts, wages, hours, leave, termination
Law No. 17 of 2020
Minimum Wage Law
Non-discriminatory minimum wage of QAR 1,000/month for all nationalities
Law No. 13 of 2018
Exit Permit Abolition
Removal of exit permits and no-objection certificates for job changes
Ministerial Decision No. 17 of 2021
Heat Stress and Outdoor Work
WBGT-based outdoor work restrictions replacing fixed midday bans
Law No. 13 of 2018
Workers' Dispute Resolution Committees
Fast-track binding resolution of labour disputes; statutory 6-week target, often issued sooner in practice
National Minimum Wage and the Wage Protection System (WPS)
Qatar is the only GCC country with a non-discriminatory minimum wage. Law No. 17 of 2020, effective March 2021, applies to every private-sector worker regardless of nationality, sector, or occupation...
Working Hours and Overtime
Qatar's Labour Law sets clear limits on working hours:Maximum 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week.During Ramadan, working hours are reduced to 6 hours per day (36 per week) for all workers.Overtime p...
Annual Leave and Public Holidays
All workers in Qatar are entitled to paid annual leave:Less than 5 years of service: 3 weeks (21 days) of paid leave per year.5 or more years of service: 4 weeks (28 days) of paid leave per year.You m...
End-of-Service Gratuity
Every private-sector worker in Qatar — Qatari or expatriate, covered by Labour Law No. 14 of 2004 or by the Domestic Workers Law No. 15 of 2017 — is entitled to an end-of-service gratuity (EOSG) when...
Workplace Safety and Heat Stress Protections
Qatar overhauled its workplace safety rules as part of its post-World Cup labour reforms, introducing one of the most science-driven heat protection systems in the world:WBGT heat stress index: Since...
Termination and Notice Period
Both employers and workers in Qatar must follow notice period rules when ending employment:2 years of service or less: Minimum one month written notice (Labour Law No. 14/2004, Art. 49).More than 2 ye...
Kafala Abolition & Employer Transfer
Qatar claims to have dismantled the kafala (sponsorship) system through a sequence of reforms from 2015 to 2020. The International Labour Organization (ILO) recognised the reforms as a landmark for th...
Domestic Worker Rights
Domestic workers in Qatar are governed by Law No. 15 of 2017 — a separate statute from the main Labour Law No. 14 of 2004. The standard contract (Cabinet Resolution No. 30 of 2017) must be issued in A...
Exit Permit & Travel Ban
Until 2018, every expatriate worker in Qatar needed an exit permit from the employer to leave the country. A Ministerial Decree in 2020 extended the earlier 2018 removal to cover every category of wor...
Non-Discrimination and Forced Labour Protections
Qatar has strengthened forced labour protections significantly as part of its post-World Cup reforms:Forced labour is a crime. Law No. 15 of 2011 punishes human trafficking with up to 15 years in pris...
Wage Protection System (WPS)
Qatar's Wage Protection System (WPS) is a mandatory electronic mechanism, in force since November 2015, that channels every private-sector salary payment through a Qatari bank account in the worker's...
Maternity and Paternity Leave
Qatar law provides maternity leave for working mothers:Maternity leave: 50 days of paid leave, which can start up to 15 days before the expected delivery date.You must have completed one year of conti...