Qatar Remuneration and Employment Benefits!

One deciding factor for every individual seeking for job is the salary offer and benefits. Working in your home country just like mine is not that satisfying in terms of it's salary and benefits especially if you are working in a private hospital or institutions. Nurses in my country are not being paid well, so many seek job abroad for a better future. So am I, I decided to leave my present job in the Philippines for a job abroad that gives me a better remuneration and benefits. 

Salaries in Qatar are more or less similar to that in western countries. But, given the lack of personal taxation, net income is usually higher, and this is one of the major attractions of working in Qatar.

Remuneration packages were divided into various elements like basic salary, food allowance, housing allowance, medical cover, children education and air tickets for home visits and other bonuses too. Some of the common benefits that companies offer to employees here in Qatar are:

Indemnity

Contract workers are awarded an 'indemnity' at the end of the contract period apart from their basic salary. The indemnity is calculated on the basis of their basic salary (excluding bonuses). The indemnity is not related to insurance, but it is more of an end-of-the-term bonus, and is required by law to be paid to expatriate workers thanking them for serving the state. It is also known as ‘end-of-contract benefits’ or ‘end-of-service’ benefits. The indemnity scales are in the range 15 to 20 days of basic pay per year of employment for the first three years, and a month’s pay every year, thereafter.

Gratuity

A worker is entitled to an end of service gratuity, upon expiry of his service as stated in the Qatar labor Law. The gratuity will be agreed upon by the two parties, provided it is not less than three-week wages for each year of employment (and if one exceeds 5 years of service, gratuity could even be calculate at 30 days per year). The last drawn basic wage will be the base for calculation of gratuity. The employer is entitled to deduct from service gratuity, the amount due to him by the worker, if any.

Sample Computation:

Case: Worker served his employer for less than 5 years, the computation will be 3 weeks for every year the service rendered.

Formula: Basic Salary / 30 (the number of days in a month) x 21 days (three weeks) = Gratuity per year

Example: Basic wage of QAR 3,000/month and worked for 3 years

3,000 / 30 = 100
100 x 21 = 2,100
2,100 x 3 = QAR 6,300

Leave

Annual leave

The employer usually fixes the date of annual leave for the worker as per the work requirements and may divide the leave with the consent of the worker, provided, it should not be divided for more than two periods. In case the employee submits a written application for postponement of the annual leave, it can be postponed to next year, but, it should not be more than half of the annual leave. Some companies also offer payment in lieu of annual leave of the employee, equivalent to the wage of the employee for the leave days for which he is entitled, in case the contract is terminated before the worker claims his leave.

Generally, after one year of continuous service, employee is eligible for an annual paid leave of at least three weeks if the service is less than five years, and at least four weeks if the service is more than five years.

Sick Leave

As an employee, you are eligible for paid sick leave, but, this can be availed only on completion of three months in service, and on producing a medical certificate. You will be paid full wage, if your sick leave does not exceed two weeks.

Others

Apart from annual leave, you will be offered leave for Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, Independence Day, National Sports Day and other festive days as specified by the employer. Muslim employees are also eligible for pilgrimage leave without paying for maximum two weeks during the period of employment. Also, female employees can avail of maternity leave (50 days) on completion of one year of service.

With the above mentioned benefits truly that working here is worth it! You are being paid fairly. Just recently, Qatar updated their law regarding the release of Salary. All employer are now required to transfer their employees salary to their ATM. This is for the government to monitor whether salary is given on time. There is 7 days extension only from due date, if you always experience delayed salary, you can shift employer without NOC (No Objection Certificate) from your previous employer if your claim for delayed salary is proven true.

In the recent survey by Aon Hewitt, a higher salary increase is on the cards for employees this year. The salary increase in Qatar will average 4.5% this year, a significant increase from last year's rise of 3.6% said in an article published in Qatar Tribune the official news publication of Qatar.