1. Contracts must be in Arabic, in triplicate and approved by the labor department, and wages are paid in Qatari Riyals. The new law also added the power to allow the employer to add the following clauses:
-The employer has the right to require the employee not to be employed by another employer for a period of time after the termination of the employment contract.
- The employer has the right to require the employee, after termination of the employment contract, not to perform work in competition with the previous employer, whether it is a personal activity or participation in a related project.
However, the said request must be limited in time period and nature of work. The employer and the employee may terminate the employment contract without giving any reason, provided that they give prior notice to each other.
Article 42 of the new labor law stipulates that an employee shall not accept gifts, bonuses, commissions, etc., related to his/her work from anyone other than the employer, and shall not disclose any of the former employer's work secrets to others after the termination of the employment contract.
The provisions in this regard are much stricter than the original labor law.
2. Probationary period
Employment contracts in Qatar generally have a probationary period, which usually ranges from 3 to 6 months. In the past, some employers tended to violate the interests of employees by extending the employment period. The new labor law stipulates that employment contracts may have a probationary period, but the period may not exceed six months.
3. Compensation at the end of employment
An employee who has been employed for more than one year is entitled to wage compensation at the end of the employment contract, which shall not be less than three weeks of the original wage per year. This is except when the employee is dismissed for breach of work discipline.
4. Working hours and vacations
The new law stipulates that the working week shall not exceed 48 hours, i.e., the working day shall not exceed 8 hours. During the month of Ramadan the weekly working hours shall not exceed 36 hours, i.e. each day shall not exceed 6 hours.
However, taking into account the specificity of some types of work, it is permissible to increase the number of working hours, which is called overtime, but the duration of overtime should not exceed two hours per day. The new law also stipulates that the Minister of Public Service is authorized to approve applications for overtime work due to necessity. Overtime pay should generally not be less than 25% of the normal wage. The wage for one hour of overtime shall not be less than 6.25 rials if the regular work is 5 rials per hour.
5. Sickness, death and social security issues.
Employees are entitled to full-pay sick leave after three months of work. Sickness of an employee must be certified by a doctor and approved by the employer, but the sick leave on full pay shall not exceed two weeks. Sick leave from the third to the sixth week is entitled to half pay. Employers can stop paying wages for more than six weeks.
The new law contains more detailed provisions on work-related injuries than before, with categories of work-related injuries and ways of identifying them. These include illnesses brought about by the nature of the work and purely work-related accidents. The scope and methods of identification of work-related injuries are also specified, including whether transportation from the place of residence to the workplace is direct and bypassed. The new law makes it very clear that the employer must pay all costs arising from work-related injuries. In the event of the death of an employee as a result of work, the amount of compensation is to be determined by an Islamic court, irrespective of the employee's religious beliefs. The employer must pay the full amount of death compensation to the court within 15 days from the date of death or from the date of the inquest determining that the death occurred in the line of duty. If, within three years, the court is unable to identify the rightful recipient of the deceased's compensation, it is paid to the state treasury.
The new law also stipulates that for more than 100 employees, the employer must have a male nurse and a certain number of first aid medicines, and for more than 500 employees, the employer must set up a clinic, which must have a doctor and at least one male nurse. Violators are subject to a fine of 2,000 to 6,000 riyals and/or one month's imprisonment.
6. Issues related to labor rights and labor representation
For the first time, paragraph 116 of the new law allows employees to form a labor committee, which must consist of no fewer than 100 Qatari nationals. Several trade union organizations in the same industry may join together to form a General Committee for profession or industry workers. General unions in different trades may form a union under the name of the Qatar Workers General Union. Members of trade unions and general unions of the same trade must be Qatari nationals. The establishment of these trade union organizations is subject to ministerial approval. The mission of these unions is to safeguard the interests of workers, protect their rights and represent them in matters relating to labor.
Article 120 of the new law provides for the right of workers to strike, which is a significant change in Qatar, where strikes were previously not permitted under Qatari law. Strikes under the new law must follow the following conditions and procedures:
- With the consent of three-quarters of the members of the General Union;
- By notifying the employer two weeks before the strike;
- With the consent of three-quarters of the members of the General Union;
- With the consent of the employer. -Approved by the Ministry of Public *** Affairs and Housing;
-All means of conciliation and arbitration have failed to bring about an agreement between the employer and the employees.
Section 124 of the new law also provides that any corporation with 30 or more employees may establish a joint employer-employee committee. The committee will consist of at least one representative of the employer and one representative of the employees. The committee is authorized to study and discuss company-related issues.
7. Provisions on Labor Discipline and Penalties
The new law stipulates that any company that employs 10 or more employees must establish labor discipline and specify the conditions and procedures of penalties for violation of labor discipline. The said labor discipline and its supplementary provisions formulated by the company must be reported to the labor department for approval before they can come into effect. The labor department will respond within 30 days of receiving said report. If the Company does not receive a notice from the labor department expressing its objection within 30 days, it may be deemed to be approved. The company may publicize the provisions, which shall come into force within 15 days from the date of publication.
The new law also defines the issue of penalties, including the scope from warning to termination of contract and the procedure to be followed by the parties.
Article 64 of the new law specifies the methods and channels for employees to appeal against penalties imposed by the employer. There are three main cases:
a) Within 7 days before being notified of the penalty and deciding to file a complaint with the relevant legal authorities, the employee should first approach the employer to seek an explanation. If the employer does not respond within 7 days, it is considered a refusal to respond.
b) If the employer refuses to respond, the employee shall have the right to file a complaint with the labor department, which shall respond within 7 days of receipt of the complaint, or it will be considered a refusal.
c) If the penalty is termination of the contract, the employee may file a complaint directly with the relevant court. If the court finds that the sanction is inappropriate, the court has the right to inform the employer that the sanction is invalid and that the employer must reinstate the employee's work contract. In such cases, the employee has the right to demand back pay and compensation from the employer,
8. Employment of women
The new labor law clearly stipulates that women are entitled to equal pay with men for equal work in terms of employment and wages; women may not be assigned to work in occupations that are hazardous or unsuitable for women. Violators are subject to a fine of 2,000 riyals or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one month. The new law also stipulates that women are entitled to 50 days of maternity leave after one year of service, during which they may not be dismissed at will by their employer. Women who are breastfeeding are entitled to one hour of breastfeeding per day for one year. This provision will play a better role in encouraging and protecting women's employment.
9. Child labor
The new labor law strictly prohibits the employment of child laborers under the age of 16 years, and violators will be fined and/or sentenced to imprisonment of up to one month. The employment of minors between the ages of 16 and 18 requires the consent of their parents or guardians and the approval of the Ministry of Labor. If the minor is Qatari, the approval of the Ministry of Education is also required. Qatar is a country where foreign workers make up more than half the population. The issue of child labor is very common in the camel breeding industry and will be outlawed with the new law.
The above brief is for reference. It is widely believed here that the new labor law has increased the protection of foreign workers to a certain extent, on the regulation
Tenders and bids for projects
The largest clients in the Qatari construction contracting market are government departments of the State of Qatar,? Government sector construction projects are generally awarded by public tender, and only in a few cases are projects awarded by direct negotiation.? There are many types of projects tendered, including general project design, consultancy, engineering design, architectural design, civil works,? Construction management, equipment supply and so on. But generally do not use the "turnkey" all-inclusive way.
Foreign companies wishing to participate in the bidding process should first register with the designated government department and pass the pre-qualification process. According to the relevant laws and regulations of the State of Qatar, foreign contractors are generally required to contract works locally through local agents,? The agent may be hired locally by the foreign company or may be a local party in a joint venture.? The hiring of an agent should be done before registration and is one of the prerequisites for registration. A good agent can facilitate and secure the company's contacts with local officials, simplify procedures, provide information on tenders, offer advice, help the company meet new customers, etc. However, if the agent is not properly employed, the company may not be able to meet the local authorities. However, if the agent is not properly recruited, he or she will not be able to contribute to the development of the company, and once recruited, it is very difficult to change the agent in the middle of the process. The commission charged by contracting agents is generally 1-15% of the contract amount,? but there are fewer cases above this percentage.
Companies are required to post a bid bond at the time of voting,? Successful companies are required to pay a performance bond within a certain period of time after notification of the final bid, the amount of which is usually 5 percent of the bid price. The bond can be in the form of a cash remittance,? or a letter of guarantee or standby letter of credit issued by a local bank. The bid bond is automatically refunded at the end of the bidding process,? the performance bond is refunded upon completion of the project.
Terms can be used when drawing up contracting contracts with local government departments or the private sector.? to prevent delays and non-performance of the contract as a result. The country considers war, flooding, ? Fire and other natural disasters are considered "force majeure"; strikes, which are illegal in the country, are included in "force majeure. Port congestion is not classified as force majeure.
Qatar does not have arbitration regulations governing the mediation of commercial disputes, but does allow for international arbitration of commercial disputes to be accepted and incorporated into contractual terms. However, international arbitration of commercial disputes is permitted and is included in the terms of the contract. It is important to note that arbitration clauses in general contracting contracts generally apply to subcontractors as well.
In Qatar, although English is commonly spoken in the business community, Arabic is the national language, and it is advisable to use Arabic when dealing with the government and when drawing up the formation documents of joint ventures, agency agreements, and contracting letters, in order to give the documents better legal validity. In case of development disputes, Arabic documents are usually given priority locally.? Qatar generally adopts a fixed price when signing a contracting contract, and once the contract is signed, both parties shall abide by the obligation not to change the price. The contract price is generally expressed in the local currency, i.e. Qatari Riyal.
Machinery and equipment required for contracted construction work may be imported duty-free and does not have to be reshipped out of the country after the work is completed,? Once such machinery and equipment imported duty-free and used are sold, they are subject to the payment of import duties. In general,? construction contracting contracts all stipulate that preference is given to the purchase of construction materials that can be produced locally. Moreover,? Qatar has a policy of protecting domestic construction contracting firms by giving preference to winning tenders even if the price quoted is slightly higher than that of foreign firms.
Entry and exit control
Traveling to Qatar for tourism or business requires a passport and a visa.? Qatar travelers must be invited by a local company or individual. The sponsor or host will take care of all the formalities to apply for a visa from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Immigration Department,? Presenting the application and the letter of guarantee. Guarantee that the visitor will leave the country on time and provide a financial guarantee for the visitor.? Once the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Immigration Department agrees to grant the visa, the Embassy or Consulate will take care of the formalities. The traveler must fill out 2 application forms for the Embassy, ? or 3 application forms to the Consulate. It takes 5 days to complete all the formalities.
The relevant authorities in Qatar limit the stay in the country to one month, and either single-entry or multiple-entry visas can be used. Transit visas are only valid for 72 hours and can be obtained at Doha International Airport,? on condition that business travelers are picked up and dropped off by a sponsor.
For those traveling to Qatar, customs do not check health certificates, but a sponsor may be required.? The same applies to police authority certificates, which are not checked by customs but may be required by the sponsor. There is no restriction on what kind and amount of currency to carry.
Travelers to Qatar are required to visit their country's public **** health department,? hospital or travel agency to get vaccinated.
Visa-free countries: Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Customs regulations: Those entering or leaving Qatar are required to declare all items they are carrying to customs. The following items are prohibited: weapons, drugs, alcohol and alcoholic beverages.
Entry visa application forms can be obtained from Qatari embassies or consulates abroad.
Judicial system
There are two types of laws in Qatar, namely the Interim Constitution and the Shari'ah Law, and two types of courts exist,? i.e. modern courts and Islamic courts. The following five courts exist in Qatar, using the constitution as a legal guideline: the Higher Criminal Court, the Lower Criminal Court, the Commercial and Civil Court, and the Commercial and Civil Court. lower criminal courts, commercial and civil courts, labor courts, and appellate courts.? Islamic courts deal with all disputes and issues that arise between Muslims. If the defendant is a Muslim and it is a civil dispute,? then the plaintiff and the defendant choose the Syariah Court to resolve the issue, which will be based on Shari'ah law,? Sunnah and the traditional trial by presumption to decide the case. If the defendant is a non-Muslim, then the case can only be brought before a modern court that is governed by the Constitution.? Qatar's constitution recognizes and guarantees the independence of the courts.
Living conditions for expatriates
The State of Qatar is a small Gulf state that has developed using petrodollars for its high wages, spending and welfare.? Not only does it have a complete and comfortable living environment,? but expatriates are also able to enjoy housing provided by that government free of charge and, sometimes, for a nominal room fee.? Qatar is currently one of the most desirable and comfortable countries in the world for expats to live in.
Qatar has a well-developed petroleum industry and is rich in oil resources, so using gasoline in the country is not only convenient,? and the gasoline is of high quality and sold at a very low price. As the government subsidizes the supply of gasoline,? So its high-grade oil per liter selling price is much lower than similar products in China. Electricity levies are also purely symbolic.
Inflation in the State of Qatar is only 5.5 percent.
In December 1989, in order to ensure that residents are not affected by international inflation, the government subsidized some of the necessities of life. Rice, sugar, milk, ? butter, bread, etc. are sold at very favorable prices. As a result, expatriates can save a great deal of money on their living expenses.? At the same time, expatriates have access to a number of other social services provided by the State of Qatar.
Medical care for expatriates
Expatriates in Qatar are offered free medical care. Patients are not required to pay any fees from registration, outpatient treatment, medication, ? surgery and hospitalization without any fees, and free meals during the hospitalization period. Qatar's medical equipment is imported from abroad, and most of the medical staff is recruited from abroad. As a result, the country's medical conditions are excellent, and patients are able to receive better treatment. The patient can get better treatment and care.
Transportation and car rental
The roads in Qatar are in good condition and there are no *** car services. Cabs are charged by meter. Rental car services are available and the requirement is that a local driver's license is required to rent a vehicle for more than 7 days. Working and living in Qatar,? Having private transportation is essential and it is relatively easy to buy a car.
Dress
Qatar is a country with a strong Islamic cultural tradition. Expatriates should dress in a manner that respects the customs of the local people. General men should wear long-sleeved clothes and pants, in public **** places do not wear shorts, not to mention the chest and back exposed. Except for the beach, such as swimming, should not wear a swimsuit. Women should dress more conservative and serious,? Although it is not required to cover the body like local women in black, black sand masked, but should wear long skirts and long-sleeved and higher neckline clothing,? should also bring a more solemn color hijab. Swimsuits, short skirts, shorts or tight pants should not be worn in the city or in public **** places, as they are considered indecent and? may cause police intervention.
Tips for socializing with locals
Qatar is an Arab Islamic country.? Islamic traditions and culture permeate all aspects of Qatari life, so it is important for expatriates to be aware of Qatar's customs, customs and social etiquette when interacting with Qataris. Social etiquette to have an understanding of, in order not to make mistakes, the following is a brief introduction:
Title
In Qatar will often hear the "Sheikh" title, can not help but reminiscent of the "Sheikh", "Patriarch" or "Sheikh", "Sheikh" or "Patriarch", "Patriarch" or "Patriarch". Patriarch" or "Patriarch". In fact, in most cases, "sheikh" is a title of respect for a person of authority in a particular field. However, this title should not be abused. For example, a more formal title should be used for senior government officials. Ministers or ambassadors, for example, should not be addressed as "Your Excellency", and their names should be written with the title "HE". It would be more appropriate to address an ordinary local citizen as "Mr.".
Greetings
The people of Qatar are warm and sincere, and when they meet, in addition to shaking hands, friends will hug and pat each other on the shoulder. friends will also embrace each other, patting shoulders, kissing to show affection. In the remote areas of the desert workers mountainous areas, sparsely populated, people see each other doubly cordial. Even if two people do not know each other, when they are far away from each other, they will let go of their voices to send greetings. There are two phrases that have been described as "the best language to use when entering the Arab world". One is "Asslamu?Alakum," which means "Don't be nervous, God is with you. God be with you," which can be used when meeting someone, and "Ma'asslaama," which means "God's blessing," which can be used when saying goodbye.
Hospitality
The Qataris are very hospitable. If you are asked to go for a drink (sometimes synonymous with a meal) or to visit a home, it is not polite to decline. Eating in Qatari homes, usually before being seated, everyone drinks tea while? While the sky south, the sea and the sky to complete the preparation of Kan. The hostess prepares the meal for a longer time. Once the feast,? People eat very quickly in a while will be cups and plates in a mess. After-dinner drinks usually include coffee, Jen tea, fruit juice, Coca-Cola, ? and even goat's and camel's milk. In Qatar, people prefer to smoke water pipe, a number of mouthpieces for a number of people to smoke at the same time, or only one mouthpiece for everyone to take turns to smoke, or only one mouthpiece for everyone to take turns to smoke. or just one mouthpiece for everyone to take turns smoking. Generally speaking, after smoking a water pipe, the guests should not stay, you should say goodbye to the host to leave.
Mannerisms
Qataris are accustomed to passing and receiving food or goods with their right hand,? This is also true for eating mutton grabs and kebabs, and the left hand is often considered unclean. Of course, if one is ****ing into a Western meal, a knife in one hand and a fork in the other,? It's a different story, and not subject to this restriction. Whether seated in a chair or on the floor, care should be taken not to show the soles of your feet,? or turn the soles of your feet toward both sides. This is very rude behavior. At the beginning of a meal, going out, entering a room, etc., ? you should be courteous to each other and ask both parties to go first. You should be cautious and careful when taking photographs, and without permission, do not photograph local airports, bridges, ? oil field facilities, military installations, major buildings, etc., and do not take pictures of local women without permission.
Men and women are different
This is one of the most valued customs in Qatar.? It is not polite for a man to ask about his wife, her hobbies, etc. If a man brings his wife with him, it is not polite for him to ask about her. If a male guest is accompanied by a female guest, the male and female guests are received separately by the host. It is not polite to invite guests to dinner in separate rooms. But generally speaking, they will not come out to meet the guests. If they meet the host's wife, they can express their greetings, but they should not be overly enthusiastic and should not take the initiative. But should not be overly enthusiastic, and do not take the initiative to shake hands. It is also not appropriate for a woman to shake hands with a man in greeting. When you meet a young girl in the host's house, you do not pick her up and play with her as you would in our country. Women may go to specialized stores to purchase things.