DOHA: In a historic decision, Qatar has introduced a minimum wage for workers and removed the No-Objection Certificate requirement to change jobs for employees. Qatar is the first country in the Middle East to introduce a minimum wage for workers.
The Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (MADLSA) issued the decision to protect the interests of employers and employees in the country.
According to, Law No. 17 of 2020 on Setting the Minimum Wage for Workers and Domestic Workers, the minimum wage for all private sector workers, including domestic workers, will be at QR1,000 per month as a basic wage, as well as QR500 per month allocated by the employer for accommodation expenses and QR300 per month for food, unless the employer already provides adequate food or accommodation for the employee or domestic worker.
The Ministry will be working with employers to update all employment contracts where workers earn less than the amount established by the new law, which will come into force after six months of its publication in the official gazette.
The law is the first of its kind in the Middle East and will provide additional stability to Qatar’s labour market.
A Minimum Wage Committee will be formed and tasked with frequently studying and reviewing the minimum wage.
The government also introduced Decree Law No. 18 of 2020 amending some provisions of Labour Law No. 14 of 2004 and Decree Law No. 19 of 2020 amending some provisions of 2004 Law No. 21 of 2015 regulating the entry and exit of expatriates and their residence, which protects the rights of both employers and employees and facilitates the employer change process. This will drive greater competition in Qatar’s labour market by allowing employees to change employers and allowing employers to attract the best talent on the local market.
The new amendments prescribe stricter penalties for employers who fail to pay their workers’ wages and introduce penalties for employers who fail to provide adequate accommodation for their workers, in line with the standards established by the Ministry.
The new amendments also include increasing the number of labour dispute resolution committees in an effort to tackle the number of labour disputes, facilitate workers’ access to the rights, and expedite legal proceedings.
H E Yousuf Mohamed Al Othman Fakhroo, Minister of Administrative Development, Labour & Social Affairs, said: “The State of Qatar is committed to creating a modern and dynamic labour market. In line with Qatar Vision 2030, these new laws mark a major milestone in this journey and will benefit workers, employers, and the nation alike.”
Attracting the desired combination of migrant workers, protecting their rights, and ensuring their safety is part of the human development goals of Qatar’s 2030 National Vision. With today’s announcement, Qatar delivers on its promise to expand the labour market in a manner that drives competition, boosts investment in the local economy,and drives economic growth in tyhe country..
To ensure compliance with the changes, MADLSA is working with competent authorities to upgrade the Wage Protection System, strengthen the capacity of inspectors and applying stricter penalties to companies that violate the law.