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Studies have shown that it is important for workers to take short breaks from deadlines and workloads to improve their work-life balance, boost overall mood, and improve productivity.
Like most modern economies, Qatar also has defined policies regarding employee vacations and mandatory holidays. Educating yourself about Qatar’s labour laws and regulations is important if you plan on working here, especially regarding employees’ paid leave entitlements.
This article will cover the following important sections of the Qatar Labour Law on annual leave, mandatory holidays, and Hajj leave for Muslim employees.
The holidays and annual leave policies are covered under Articles 78 to 85 of Qatar Labour Law.
Mandatory Holidays
According to Article 78, all workers shall be entitled to holidays with a full wage as follows:
- Three (3) working days on the occasion of Eid AI-Fitr.
- Three (3) working days on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha.
- One (1) working day on the occasion of Independence Day.
- Three (3) working days, their dates to be specified by the employer.
| Occasion | Number of Days |
|---|---|
| Eid AI-Fitr | 3 Working Days |
| Eid AI-Adha | 3 Working Days |
| Qatar National Day | 1 Working Day |
| To be specified by the Employer | 3 Working Days |
If it is mandatory for a worker to remain employed during a period of such leave, the provision of Article 75 (related to overtime payment) shall apply. This law states employees working overtime should be paid 125% of their hourly wage.
Qatar Labour Law on Annual Leave
According to Article 79 of Qatar Labour Law, workers who have completed one continuous year in the service shall be entitled to annual leave with their basic wage.
- The annual leave will be a minimum of three weeks for workers who have worked less than five years.
- The annual leave will be a minimum of four weeks for workers who have worked for five years or more.
| Service Period | Annual Leave |
|---|---|
| Less than one year | Not entitled |
| Less than five years | Minimum of three weeks |
| Five years or more | Minimum of four weeks |
The Worker shall be entitled to a leave for the fractions of the year proportionately with the period he spent in the service.
Annual Leave Salary Calculation
According to Article 72, the wage of the worker during the annual or sick leave and his end-of-service gratuity shall be calculated based on his basic wage (basic salary) on the date of entitlement.
If the worker is employed on a piecework basis, the entitlement shall be calculated based on his average wages for the three months preceding the date of entitlement.
Payment of Annual Leave Salary
According to Article 68 of the Labour Law, the employer shall pay to the worker prior the date of his annual leave due remuneration for the work he performed up to the date of the annual leave in addition to the due leave allowance.
Who decides the annual leave dates?
According to Article 80, the employer can specify the annual leave dates per the work requirements. The employer can also divide the annual leave upon the worker’s consent. However, such division shall not be into more than two periods.
For example, an employer (with the worker’s consent) can divide the annual leave of 24 days into two periods of 12 days each (or any fraction), but it should not be split into three periods of 8 days each.
Carry Forward of Annual Leave
Upon receiving a written request from the worker, an employer can postpone (carry forward) no more than half of the annual leave to the following year.
For example, a worker with 24 days of annual leave can request his employer to carry forward ten days of his annual leave to the following year. However, he cannot carry forward more than 12 days out of his 24 days.
Can the employer deny annual leave to workers?
All workers are entitled to the minimum days of annual leave, as mentioned earlier. As per Article 81, the worker shall not waive his entitlement to the annual leave, and any agreement to the contrary shall be null and void.
If the employment contract is terminated (for any reason) before the worker takes his annual leave, the worker is entitled to receive a cash allowance. This cash allowance shall be equivalent to the basic wage for the leave days he is entitled to.
Hajj Leave for Muslim Workers
As per Article 83, a Muslim worker shall be granted a leave without pay, not more than twenty (20) days, to perform Hajj (pilgrimage) for once during his service.
Please note that, unlike annual leave, Hajj leave is not an entitlement for the employee. It is solely up to the employer’s discretion to grant this leave or not. Also, note that the worker will not be paid during this leave.
Employers should specify how many workers can be granted such leaves annually. Priority should be given to workers in continuous service for a longer period.
- Hajj leave shall be without pay.
- Hajj leave shall not be more than twenty (20) days.
- Hajj leave can be given only once during a worker’s service.
If the worker starts working with another employer and the employer discovers that the worker has been granted a leave to perform Hajj by another employer, then the current employer may reject granting such leave to the worker since it is given once throughout the service period.
Important Points to Note
As per Article 84, a worker shall not work for another employer during his leave. If it has been proved that the worker breached this condition, the employer can deprive him of his wage for the period of leave and recover what has been already paid.
According to Article 85, the employer cannot terminate the employment contract or notify the worker of termination during any of his annual leaves. If the notice period expires during such leave, the employer shall not notify the worker that the contract is terminated.
Please note that the Qatar Labour Law rules do not apply to domestic workers and those under personal sponsorship. The rules for employees at public sector companies and government workers are also not covered under the Labour Law.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days of leave per year are in Qatar?
As per Article 79 of Qatar Labour Law, the annual leave will be a minimum of 3 weeks for workers who have worked at least one year but less than 5 years. It would be a minimum of 4 weeks for workers who have worked for 5 years or more.
How is leave salary calculated in Qatar law?
Leave salary is calculated as per the worker’s basic salary on the due date. For those who are working on a piecework basis, it would be the worker’s average remuneration for the last three months.
Disclaimer: The information posted above should only be used as a reference. For more updated guidelines, please contact Qatar Labour and the appropriate authorities.
Related Articles:
- How To Calculate End of Service Gratuity
- Qatar Labour Law: Working Hours and Overtime
- Qatar Labour Law on Sick Leave and Maternity Leave
- Minimum Wage in Qatar: Everything You Need To Know
- How To Change Job in Qatar Without NOC
- Guide To Qatar Wage Protection System WPS
- 3 Ways To Easily Check Travel Ban in Qatar
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Reference: Qatar Legal Portal
hi,We are working as nurses in Qatar we signed agreement with our company that we shall be entitled for annual leave after a year which is almost to come November bit the employer has started threatening us that no one wil go for leave till we finish 2years.in this case what are we support to do because some of us left 2months old breastfeeding babies and with the kind of job we are doing we need break and rest.
Hi Nyamu, You can consider filing a complaint through any of these modes: https://www.dohaguides.com/labour-complaint-in-qatar/
Hi, i was not able to use my 2021 and 2022 annual leave, shall i be paid for those years including the ticket allowance? If ever ill use it together with this years’s vacation? This coming october, ill be completing my 3yrs in the company, as per my contract i have a yearly vacation 2way ticket, unfortunately i was not able to have my vacation for the past two years, and this coming december 2023 will be my first ever vacation for my 3 yrs in the company, may i know what are my rights and how much should i get?
Hi Purple, As per the law, if you are entitled to annual vacation you should have taken it each year. If the company asked you to postpone your vacation (and you have written proof of that) you can claim it in case of a dispute. Otherwise it would depend on your company’s HR policy. Try to reach an agreement with your company. It is difficult to get a legal solution unless you have written communication.
Good morning sir
My company HR not allow me to vacation on due to corona period and i request my ticket money they not provided on 2021..my two years end 2021…
I get my ticket and vacation money in 2022 for two years.now i completed 4 years this 2023
And sudden they announced only one ticket we can provide for 4years completed staff…its really bad
Kindly reply me for this matter.. i have watsapp chat screenshot with my HR shes reject my vacation..
Hi,
I have been living in the room last 2 month.Still my company not decide to when give my settlement.So how can I get my settlement? where I apply my problem?
Hi Binod, Please see the ways to file a complaint: https://www.dohaguides.com/labour-complaint-in-qatar/
Hi Good Evening, can I ask regarding 21 days leave vacation with pay?
According to my contract, if I completed the 1 year of work here I have 21 days leave with pay. I just wan’t to make sure that they provide my ticket back and forth? Or they should only give me a ticket 1 way? And I will provide my own ticket to go back here in doha?
Hi Jay, You need to check what is written on your contract. Some contracts says return flight tickets each year, while some will say flight tickets once in two years. If it says about flight tickets, it is usually two-way.
Good afternoon, I have an offer letter signed with a job offer to start between 1 and 15 November last year (2022), but my employer did not send me the airline tickets (they did send me the work visa in due time and form last October), they kept delaying me and finally they sent me the tickets in February this year and I started working on that date. Can I claim anything from the previous months?
Hi Juan, Sorry, we don’t think you can claim anything for the waiting period.