Qatar - Maternity protection - 2011

16 September 2011

Law No. 14 of the Year 2004 issuing the Labour Law of Qatar

All female workers shall enjoy paid maternity leave except the following categories of workers:
1. The employees and workers of the Ministries and other governmental organs, public institutions, corporations and companies which are established by Qatar Petroleum by itself or with others, and the workers whose employment affairs are regulated by special laws.
2. The Officers and members of the armed forces and police and the workers employed at sea.
3. The workers employed in casual works.
4. The persons employed in domestic employment such as drivers, nurses, cooks, gardeners and similar workers.
5. Working members of employer’s family. These are the wife, ascendants and descendants who are residing with and wholly dependent on him.
6. The workers employed in agriculture and grazing other than the persons employed in the agricultural establishments processing and marketing their own products or those who are permanently employed in the operation or repair of the necessary agricultural mechanical appliances.

In order to be entitled to enjoy maternity leave a female worker shall have completed at least one year of work with the same employer.

Maternity leave shall be granted subject to a medical certificate issued by a licensed physician stating the probable date of delivery.

Maternity leave shall include the period before and after the delivery provided that the period following the delivery shall not be less than thirty five days.

The general total duration of maternity leave is 50 days.

If the remaining period of the leave after delivery is less than thirty days the female worker may be granted a complementary leave from her annual leave. Otherwise the complementary period shall be deemed to be a leave without pay.

If the medical condition of the female worker prevents her from resuming her work after expiry of her leave referred to in the preceding paragraphs the female worker shall be deemed to be on leave without pay provided that the period of her absence from works shall not exceed sixty consecutive or interrupted days and provided that a medical certificate of her medical condition shall be produced from a licensed physician.

The duration of maternity leave benefits is 50 days.

The worker shall receive the 100 per cent of her wage during maternity leave.

The employer shall provide maternity benefits.

Women shall not be employed otherwise than in the times to be specified by a Decision of the Minister.

Women shall not be employed in dangerous arduous works, works detrimental to their health, morals or other works to be specified by a Decision of the Minister.