Workers covered by the labour law are entitled to end-of-service benefits after putting in one year of continuous service, says the legislation, according to a guidebook for foreign investors released yesterday by a prominent law firm, Al Tamimi and Company. The end-of-service benefits (or gratuity) are to be calculated at the rate of three weeks’ basic wages for every year of service according to the last basic wage of an employee, says the book, Setting Up in Qatar. The employee will also be entitled to gratuity for any fraction of a year of service provided he has completed the required one year of continuous service. The book is to hit the stands soon. Although it is meant for foreign investors wishing to set up businesses here, existing businesses and individuals can also find it handy as it has key clauses of the labour law explained in detail. There are seven national holidays in the country every year — three for Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha each, and one for Independence Day — which all employees are entitled to. But employers are required to give three more days of mandatory leave to their workers every year, taking the total to 10. The labour law does not permit any company to make an employee work on two consecutive Fridays, with the exception of shift workers. If it is necessary for an employee to work on any of the official holidays stipulated under the labour law or on a rest day, the employee is entitled to full or partial pay, and he must be allowed an equal number of days off together. If the employee does not receive the applicable days off, the employer must pay him 150 percent of his basic wage in lieu of these days. Overtime should not exceed two hours per day, unless it is necessary to prevent substantial loss or a serious accident or to remove or reduce its effect. The provisions for sick leave require that full wage be paid for the first two weeks and half of the wage for the next four weeks. An employee is without pay thereafter until he resumes work or resigns, or his service is terminated on health reasons. http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=May2009&file=Local_News2009052753848.xml

Follow us on our social media channels: @ILQlive @ILQlive @ILoveQtr ILoveQatar