The State of Qatar has enacted Law No. (12) of 2024, mandating the localization of jobs in the private sector to enhance Qatari citizens’ participation in the private labour market. The law was published in Issue (14) of the Official Gazette after being ratified by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, with a six-month grace period for implementation.
Under the law, all entities subject to its provisions must employ, train, and qualify Qatari job seekers. If Qatari candidates are unavailable, priority is given to children of Qatari women, in line with the policies and plans set by the Ministry of Labour.
The law applies to all employers, including individuals, commercial companies registered in the commercial registry, private institutions serving the public interest, sports organizations, and associations.
The Ministry of Labour is tasked with creating a detailed plan to classify entities based on the size of their workforce and the types of jobs available. It also defines training and qualification policies, including scholarships for job seekers pursuing university studies.
The law also outlines incentives and benefits for those who comply with the localization plan, as determined by a decision from the Council of Ministers. The Ministry of Finance allocates the financial resources needed to support job localization.
The law prescribes a series of penalties in cases of non-compliance, starting with a written warning and suspension of transactions with the Ministry of Labour for up to three months. Financial fines may also be imposed, and penalties could include imprisonment for up to three years, a fine of up to one million Qatari riyals, or both.
Financial fines escalate based on the nature and recurrence of the violation. The fine starts at 10,000 QAR for the first offence, increases to 20,000 QAR for the second, and rises to 30,000 QAR for repeated violations.
For training and qualification plan violations, the fine is 50,000 QAR for the first offence, 75,000 QAR for the second, and up to 100,000 QAR for the third.
The law also requires entities to provide relevant authorities with all data on available job opportunities and their requirements, as well as to submit biannual reports containing data on both Qatari and non-Qatari employees.
This law will come into effect six months after its publication in the Official Gazette, allowing businesses and institutions sufficient time to adjust their operations in compliance with its provisions and to ensure the effective and transparent implementation of the job localization plan.
