Eid Al Adha holidays are about to start, however, your company is requiring you to report to work during these days and you would like to ask, 'Is it illegal or not?

The answer to your question is: Yes.

According to the Workers’ Rights Booklet of National Human Rights Committee of  Qatar, your employer can demand you to comply with your duties on the Eid break, your rest day, or any other additional hours, however with certain conditions.

Read on to know these terms.

Q - What are the official holidays and are they paid for?

• A full-time leave is payable annually as follows:

- Three days on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr.

- Three days on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.

- One day marking the national day 18/12 each year.

- Three days set by the employer.

- If the working conditions require that you work in any of these holidays, you must be compensated for that.

Q - Is it permissible for the employer to ask you to work on the weekly rest day?

• Friday is your regular weekly rest day, except shift workers.
• You may be employed on the weekly rest day if the working conditions call for it, provided that the pay is paid to you as your basic salary and that you are compensated with another day of rest, or pay your basic salary plus (150%), for example:
• If the basic wage on the normal day is 100 Riyals, you should be given 250 riyals if you work on the weekend.
• You may not be employed more than two consecutive Fridays, even if you agree to work.
• If you are working between 9 pm and 3 am, your employer must pay your basic salary plus an increase (50%), except for shift workers, for example:

If the basic wage at normal times is 50 Riyals, you should be given 75 Riyals if you do work between nine and three in the morning.

Q- Is there a fixed number of work hours?

• Eight hours a day, with an hour’s rest (prayer-eating), without the rest being counted within the actual work hours.
• Six hours a day during the month of Ramadan, with a break, not counting the rest period within the actual work hours.

Q - May the employer ask you to work additional hours?

He may; provided that the total number of working hours per day shall not exceed ten hours, except for those necessities that require continuous work to prevent a serious loss or to repair and mitigate the consequences of an accident

The National Human Rights Committee of  Qatar  believes  that promoting and protecting human rights is a key to the advancement of society. As part of its mission, its booklet with the above stated employment and salary terms, has been designed especially for you to be your guide in understanding your rights and duties during your work tenure in Qatar.

The NHRC seeks to spread awareness to improve all the conditions that are related to your work.