HH The Emir passes new law that prioritises Qatari citizens for public jobs

HH The Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has been a huge force in rapidly changing the country’s way of functioning during the current difficult times.

He spoke tough about making national spending cuts and making the country more self reliant. Yesterday, HH The Emir passed a new law that will give Qatari citizens top priority for government and public jobs.

After Qatari citizens, the next priority for plum jobs will be given to children of Qatari women married to non-Qataris, non-Qatari spouses of Qatari citizens, nationals of other GCC countries, Arab expatriates and other nationalities, in that order.

In all cases, the appointment of non-Qatari employees will be made only through employment contracts, reported Gulf Times.

Law No. 15 for 2016 on Civil Human Resources is applicable to civilian employees at government ministries and departments and other public sector entities.

However, a few category of jobs are exempted from these provisions and they include judges, assistant judges, members of the Public Prosecution and their assistants, employees of the Emiri Diwan, employees of the diplomatic and consulate corps, university teaching staff, Qatar Petroleum employees, Qatar Investment Authority employees and State Audit Bureau employees.

The Cabinet will issue the executive regulations of the law and it will be applicable from the day following its publication in the official gazette.

Under the new law, every government entity will prepare its job structure in accordance with its actual needs, tasks and specialty, which will be only applicable when approved by the Minister.

A new employee will have to spend a probationary period of three months, which can be extended for a similar period. If the employee proves to be unfit for the job during this period, his/her services will be terminated.

Government and public sector employees will receive social bonus, allowances for housing, transportation, special and exceptional bonus, and compensation for overtime. Other allowances include those for telephones, furniture, private vehicles and others.