Labor Law No. 3 of 1962 (as amended) governs industrial relations in Qatar. Under the Labor Law, priority in employment is granted to Qataris, then to nationals of Arab countries and, finally, to other non-Qataris. Non-Qataris can be employed only if they obtain a work-permit from the Department of Labor in the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. The applicant must have a valid passport and a resident permit and must be of good conduct and reputation. Generally, permits are valid for two years.
There are no fixed minimum wages in Qatar, and no pension schemes are available for non-Qataris. There are no labor unions in Qatar, and strikes, lockouts and slowdowns are prohibited. Workers are entitled to one day off per week and to other benefits such as holiday on the occasion of Ramadan, annual paid leave of fourteen days, illness pay and severance pay. The Department of Labor in the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs resolves all industrial disputes, after which the matter may be referred to the Labor Court for a final decision.
