Hisham Aljundi
Doha
In a major step to protect the rights of domestic workers, the Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani on Tuesday issued Law No 15 of 2017 on domestic workers. The law is effective and is to be published in the Official Gazette.
The new law stipulates that domestic workers can only be hired through licensed recruitment agencies, with exceptions made by the competent authorities at the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (MADLSA).
Domestic workers are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity which will be a minimum of three weeks of wages for each year of service, it says.
The employers are required to treat domestic workers well, guaranteeing their safety and dignity. The employers are also required to provide food, proper accommodation and medical care to their workers.
The employers are also prohibited from asking their domestic helps to work outside of the country without his/her consent.
The maximum working period for domestic workers has been fixed at 10 hours with breaks for worship, eating and rest.
The employers will face a fine of QR10,000 if the salaries are not deposited in the bank accounts of the domestic helps in time. Both parties may terminate the contract in the event of a breach by one of the parties.
People below 18 years and above 60 years can't be hired as domestic workers. The employers have been prohibited to ask domestic helps to work when they are on sick leave or during rest hours.
In case of death, the employer is obliged to transfer the body of the domestic worker to his home country and deposit all financial dues in the treasury of the competent department at the ministry within 15 days.
THE law also obliges workers to respect the traditions and customs of the country and its religious values, and to maintain the assets of their employers and their belongings.
The workers have the right of three weeks of annual vacation and have no less than a salary of three weeks for every year as an end of service bonus. Claims for rights resulting from the job contract will be nullified if more than one year has elapsed since one of the parties has terminated the contract.