Workers must be granted at least one paid day off each week, Qatar’s labor ministry has reminded employers.
In a tweet last week, the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs cited Article 75 of the law, which states:
According to legal portal Al Meezan, the clause also states that people should be compensated for working on Friday in one of two ways:
- By either getting time off another day of the week; or
- Getting paid time and a half (or 150 percent of one’s regular wage for working on a Friday.
Additionally, with the exception of shift workers, it’s prohibited to require an employee to work for two consecutive Fridays, the law states.
ADLSA
Complaint kiosk
The ministry did not say what to do if an employer is flouting the law, but it does have kiosks set up in its branches for people to file complaints.
It has also recently pledged to establish a complaint hotline soon for abused expats.
Domestic workers
The no work on Fridays rule applies to all those who fall under the labor law.
For now, this excludes domestic workers, such as gardeners, cooks, drivers and nannies.
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Photo for illustrative purposes only.
However, last month the Cabinet approved a draft law that would provide legal protection to these employees by bringing them under the labor law.
According to a document submitted to the International Labor Organization last month, the law would establish a 10-hour workday with periods for rest and food.
It would also mandate one day off a week. However, how officials will be able to enforce what goes on behind closed doors remains to be seen.
