The Ministry Of Administrative Development, Labour, and Social Affairs [MADSLA] has announced major changes in the country’s labour law, allowing migrant workers to change jobs without their employer’s permission and introducing a non-discriminatory minimum wage.

Under Qatar's old "kafala" law (Arabic word for sponsorship) system,  workers needed to obtain their employer's permission - a no-objection certificate (NOC) - before changing jobs.

With the announcement,  workers can now change jobs before the end of their contract subject to a notice period.

"Either party must provide one month written notice in the first two years of the contract or two months’ notice beyond the second year of the contract," the MADLSA said in a statement. 

To change jobs is now simple:

Give your current employer a written notice

The changes will now allow migrant workers to change jobs before the end of their contract without first having to obtain a ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) from their employer, dismantling the controversial kafala system completely and providing protection for workers in the country.

In addition, the new legislation has set a minimum wage of 1,000 Qatari riyals (QAR), which will enter into force six months after the law’s publication in the Official Gazette. This will apply for all workers of all nationalities in both, private and governmental sectors, including domestic workers.

The law states that before terminating an employment contract and changing jobs, workers are required to provide at least one month’s written notice if they have worked with the employer for two years or less, or two months’ notice if they have worked with the employer for a period more than that.

In order to ensure decent living standards for workers, the legislation stipulates that employers pay allowances of at least QAR 300 and QAR 500 to cover costs of food and housing respectively, in case these are not already provided for the workers. If these allowances are provided then the minimum take home pay is now set at QAR 1,000.

The ‘non-discriminatory’ move is the first of its kind in the Middle East, a statement by the ministry, declared, noting the minimum wage was set following extensive consultations with a specialised national committee composed of relevant authorities in Qatar.

Authorities have also said they will be working with employers to update all employment contracts where workers currently earn less than the amount established by the new law, ensuring that pay cheques reflect new legislation within six months from now.