Doha – Nashat Amin:
A number of lawyers praised the new amendments included in Labor Law No. (9) of 2026, noting that they included introducing fundamental amendments to the provisions of Labor Law No. (14) of 2004 with the aim of enhancing legal protection for the worker, achieving balance between the parties to the employment relationship, and developing law enforcement mechanisms.
The lawyers who spoke to Al-Raya said that the new amendments represent an important step in the process of developing labor legislation in a way that enhances the competitiveness of the national economy, raises the efficiency of the labor market, and provides a more stable and attractive business environment for investment, in line with the requirements of economic development and the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030. They noted that the new amendments respond to the developments taking place in the labor market in Qatar, as they focus on enhancing regulatory flexibility, raising the efficiency of services and procedures, regulating the relationship between production parties, and developing control and compliance tools in a way that achieves a balance between the interests of employers. And the workers. They explained that the amendments made it possible to organize part-time work and self-employment according to clear legal and regulatory frameworks issued by subsequent decisions, which provides greater flexibility for establishments in benefiting from competencies and expertise, and contributes to keeping pace with modern transformations in the labor market and the economy of platforms and services. They noted that they also included developing the regulatory framework for recruitment activity, by strengthening oversight and oversight of recruitment offices, and regulating licensing procedures, conditions of practice, and penalties prescribed for violations.
D. Rashid Abudayyah: Professional certification enhances the quality of the workforce
Dr. confirmed. Rashid Abudayyeh, the lawyer, said that Law No. (9) of 2026 amending some provisions of Labor Law No. (14) of 2004 came to keep pace with the developments taking place in the labor market in the State of Qatar, by introducing fundamental amendments aimed at strengthening the legal protection of the worker, achieving a balance between the parties to the employment relationship, and developing law enforcement mechanisms.
The legislator has reorganized the scope of application of the law under Article (3), and also introduced Article (23 bis), which requires that the worker in some technical and craft professions obtain training, testing, and an approved certificate before practicing the profession, in a way that enhances the quality of the workforce and raises the level of professional competence.
Within the framework of regulating the labor market, Article (36) was amended to tighten control over offices recruiting workers from abroad, while Article (43) reorganized the non-competition condition, restricting its application to specific cases and for a period not exceeding two years, while explicitly stipulating that this condition would be forfeited if the employment contract was terminated during the probationary period. One of the most important amendments is the introduction of Article (115 bis), which required that labor disputes be submitted to the Ministry of Labor for amicable settlement within specific periods before referring them to the Dispute Resolution Committee. Article (115 bis/4) also decided to grant the committee’s decisions the force of an executive document, in order to achieve speedy settlement of disputes and ensure the implementation of rulings.
Article (120) also regulated the right to strike with an integrated legislative organization, as it required the approval of three-quarters of the workers, prior notification, prohibited strikes in vital facilities, and imposed legal responsibility for violating these controls. To ensure that this right is not abused, the legislator, pursuant to Article (3) of Law No. (9) of 2026, introduced a new clause No. (11) to Article (61) of the Labor Code, under which the employer is permitted to terminate the worker’s service if he incites the rest of the workers to go on strike for illegal reasons and this results in the disruption of the facility’s work.
To enhance institutional dialogue, Article 124 obliges establishments employing 100 or more workers to form a joint committee of representatives of the employer and workers. Articles (144) and (145 bis) also tightened penalties for violations, and Articles (146 bis) and (146 bis/1) introduced administrative powers for the Ministry of Labor, including stopping some services for violating establishments, imposing financial penalties, and publishing violations in specific cases.
Mohsen Al-Haddad: Developing more efficient mechanisms for resolving disputes
Lawyer Mohsen Al-Haddad said that the new amendments included in Labor Law No. (9) of 2026 included introducing fundamental amendments to the provisions of Labor Law No. (14) of 2004, aimed at enhancing legal protection for the worker, achieving a balance between the parties to the employment relationship, and developing law enforcement mechanisms.
He explained that with regard to the process of settling labor disputes, the amendments have introduced more efficient and rapid mechanisms for resolving disputes, by developing amicable settlement procedures and enabling labor dispute resolution committees to use electronic means and giving their decisions the force of executive authority, which contributes to accelerating procedures and enhancing stability in labor relations. He noted that the amendments also enhanced dialogue and cooperation within establishments by requiring establishments that employ (100) or more workers to form joint committees that include representatives of the employer and workers, in a way that supports institutional communication and contributes to addressing operational challenges and enhancing the stability of the work environment.
He stressed that the amendments included new provisions to regulate the practice of some professions, by requiring obtaining training certificates and accredited professional tests.
Hamad Al-Yafei: A qualitative leap in developing the legislative system
Hamad Al-Yafei, the lawyer, praised the recent amendments included in Labor Law No. (9) of 2026, noting that they gave the Ministry of Labor more effective oversight tools to deal with violations, including halting some transactions of violating establishments, publishing the names of violators in cases specified by the law, imposing prescribed penalties, and obligating establishments to remove the causes of violation, which contributes to enhancing justice and fair competition and raising the level of commitment in the labor market.
He believed that these amendments constitute a qualitative leap in the development of the legislative system regulating the labor market in the State of Qatar, and contribute to enhancing the business environment, raising the efficiency of government services, attracting talent, and achieving stability and sustainability in labor relations in a way that serves the comprehensive national development process.
He noted that the amendments included developing the regulatory framework for recruitment activity, by strengthening control and supervision of recruitment offices, organizing licensing procedures, conditions of practice, and penalties prescribed for violations, which contributes to raising the quality of services provided to citizens and residents, enhancing the reliability of recruitment procedures, and ensuring that all parties adhere to the legal controls regulating this activity.
He stated that the amendments also included provisions that strengthen the protection of wages and ensure the regularity of their disbursement in accordance with the controls and procedures that will be issued in later regulatory decisions, in a way that supports the stability of labor relations and raises the level of commitment within the labor market.
Hassan Al-Khoury: Organizing part-time and freelance work
Hassan Abdullah Al-Khouri, a lawyer, believed that Law No. (9) of 2026 amending some provisions of the Labor Law represents an important step in the process of developing labor legislation witnessed by the State of Qatar, as the amendments came in response to those developments imposed by practical reality and the need to update some provisions in a way that is consistent with the nature and requirements of the labor market in the country. He stressed that among the most prominent innovations of the law is the regulation of part-time work and self-employment, which provides a legal framework for work patterns that have become more widespread in recent years.
It also reorganized the non-competition clause in a more clear way to ensure the protection of the legitimate interests of the employer without prejudice to the worker’s right to practice his professional activity in accordance with the controls set by the law.
He said that the amendments extended to developing procedures for settling labor disputes by allowing the use of electronic means and granting the decisions of dispute resolution committees the force of executive authority, which contributes to the speedy settlement of disputes and reducing procedures. They also included strengthening wage protection, tightening control over recruitment offices, and obligating large establishments to form joint committees between employers and workers in a way that supports dialogue within the work environment.
He considered that these amendments represent an important addition to the labor law system, but their real impact will appear with practical application and the issuance of regulations and executive decisions that will determine the mechanisms for implementing many of the new provisions, which will enhance the achievement of a balance between the rights of workers and the interests of employers and keep pace with the continuous development witnessed by the labor market in the State of Qatar.
