Qatar Implements New Sick Leave Regulations for Workers

Workers in Qatar are entitled to sick leave benefits after completing three months of continuous service, as per Article 82 of Qatar's labor regulations. To activate this entitlement, employees must present a report from a qualified physician.

The sick leave is structured in three stages: full pay for the first two weeks, followed by 50% pay for the next four weeks. After this six-week period, any remaining sick leave, up to a maximum of 12 weeks, is unpaid.

At the end of the 12-week period, an employer may terminate an employee's contract if a licensed physician certifies that the worker is unfit for work. If an employee falls ill before the six-week mark and a physician approves, the employer must pay any remaining sick leave entitlements.

This obligation also applies if the employee dies due to the illness before the six-week window concludes. The entire 12-week sick leave period counts as active service time for end-of-service gratuity calculations.