Qatar has amended its wage payment regulations, formally requiring employers to transfer workers’ salaries within seven days of the due date through the Wage Protection System (WPS). The amendment to Article 2 was issued by Minister of Labour Dr Ali bin Samikh Al-Marri and published in the Official Gazette, with all relevant authorities directed to implement it within their areas of responsibility, effective September 2026.

What the Amendment Says

Under the updated rule, employers must deposit wages into workers’ bank accounts at financial institutions in Qatar within seven days of the date wages become due. Payment must be processed through WPS, the electronic system used to monitor salary transfers and ensure workers are paid through approved financial channels.

The amendment also confirms the payment schedule by worker category:

• Monthly or annual contracts: wages are due on the first day of each calendar month
• Other workers: wages must be paid at least once every two weeks

In both cases, the employer then has seven days from the due date to complete the transfer through WPS.

Why This Matters for Workers

WPS already gives Qatar’s Ministry of Labour a real-time digital trail of salary payments, making it easier to identify employers who pay late. Non-compliance under existing labour law provisions can lead to fines, blocks on new work permits, and further sanctions, so this amendment reinforces enforcement rather than introducing a new penalty regime. Workers who are not paid on time can file a complaint through mol.gov.qa or in person at a Labour Dispute Resolution Centre.

For expat workers, the practical takeaway is simple: if your monthly salary hasn’t landed within seven days of your due date, your employer is now clearly in breach of a specifically reaffirmed rule — not a grey area — and you have a documented channel to raise it.

Official Gazette: Ministry of Justice, Qatar (PDF)
Reported by: iloveqatar.net, Qatar Living