TAKING A LEAVE FROM WORK IN QATAR: GUIDE

Need to take a leave from work? Here's everything you need to know about taking a leave in Qatar, as per guidelines by Qatar Labour Law and Qatar Financial Centre.

Annual leave

Qatar Labour Law:

• Employees with between one year and five years’ consecutive service are entitled to three weeks annual leave. Employees with over five years’ service are entitled to four weeks annual leave.
• Up to 50% of the employee’s annual leave entitlement may be carried over to the following year if requested by the employee.
• Employees are entitled to public holidays – 11 days per year – that fall on a work day. 

QFC Employment Regulations:

• Employees with over three months’ service are entitled to a minimum of 20 working days per year.
• Employees are entitled to public holidays that fall on a workday. 

Sick leave

Qatar Labour Law:

• After three months’ service, employees are entitled to the following period of sick leave/pay per year: Two weeks – 100% pay; Further four weeks – 50% pay 
• After six weeks’ paid sick leave, employees are entitled to unpaid sick leave up to a maximum of 12 weeks. 

• After 12 weeks of absence has elapsed, the employer is entitled to dismiss the employee without notice.

• Sick pay is dependent on the employee providing a medical certificate to the employer. 

QFC Employment Regulations:

• Employees are entitled to 60 working days’ sick leave per year, to be paid at the employee’s standard remuneration. 

Maternity leave

Qatar Labour Law:

• Employees with at least one year of continuous service are entitled to 50 days’ maternity leave at full pay.
• At least 35 days of the leave must be taken after the birth.
• If the employee suffers from a pregnancy-related health issue, they are entitled to take up to a further 60 days’ unpaid leave.
• Employees are entitled to daily nursing break(s) of up to one hour for a period of one year from the birth of the child. 

QFC Employment Regulations:

• Employees with at least one year of continuous service are entitled to 14 weeks’ maternity leave. This period of leave must be paid at full pay for the first seven weeks and 50% pay for the remaining seven weeks.

[Source: Qatar Labour Law, Pinsent Masons]