Notice Periods - confused!
By rockinghamraider •
Hi,
I've been here 2 months and had a very hard time with my Employer and I am planning to hand my notice in next week. I have a new job offer both here and in Abu Dhabi with the same firm. My contract states that I am on 6 months probation. At the moment I don't have a copy of the contract as I am still trying to get them to give me a copy. My RP is signed and I'm a resident. Whether I get an NOC is another story though, which I am fully aware of.
Does anyone know the standard notice periods? I seem to recall there being 30 days and 3 days mentioned in my contract but surely I would only be obliged to give 30 days notice if I had been here longer than my probation period?
No, no, please go on Julie! We need more people like you with solid info. Thanks.
Mandi
Sorry to go on about the Labor Law, but it may help you and others, as so few people seem to have a copy.
Article (38): 'The service contract shall be made in writing and attested by the (Labor) department and shall comprise three copies, one copy to be delivered to each of the parties and the third copy to be deposited with the Department'
So, the law says you must have a copy. If they can't or won't give you a copy (or if you've lost the one they gave you), the Labor department will surely have one on file which they would be able to refer to if you consult them.
rockinghamraider, that's pathetic that they'd do that. Well I hope your new company which is a sister company Im guessing, is better. Good luck.
"These guys really do have you by the short and curlies." Uhmmm the what?
rock, buy your ticket, get your passport and exit permit then get the pak out of here
Labda, They refused point blank to give me a copy of the contract, this was after I had signed it! Do you think I would have let that happen before I signed the contract, knowing they wouldn't have given me a contract? Would I f***!
Believe me I have been chasing it ever since, but every excuse is thrown at me and to say they are hard work is an understatement. I had to sign the contract because they hadn't paid me and I have a mortgage to pay at home.
These guys really do have you by the short and curlies.
Speed is right that as per the law one week's notice is required (for private companies).
Just to confirm:
Article (49.2.A) of the Labor Law, which applies to both employer and employee,states:
'If the period of service is less than one year the notification period shall be at least one week.'
Sometimes contracts are written stipulating longer periods of notice from the employee, in which case Article (4) applies:
'The entitlements prescribed by law represent the minimum entitlements of the workers and any stipulation contradicting the provisions of this law shall be void ....unless the said stipulation is more advantageous to the workers and any release, compromise or waiver of the entitlements prescribed for the worker by this law shall be void'.
In plain terms, this important article means that an employer can't provide terms in a contract which give the worker less than what the Labor Law gives them. Even if they do, the law is valid, the contract isn't.
The fact that an employee signed a contract agreeing to accept less than the law provides doesn't mean that the law doesn't apply.
When you think about it, how many of us expats had read the Qatar Labor Law before we came to Qatar or signed our contracts? The law offers us protection from unknowingly signing away our rights.
If you've got any issues after trying to come to an equitable agreement with your employer, I'd advise you to consult the Labor Department for advice on your situation.
aaaaannnndddd you're a Contracts Analyst???!!
rockinghamraider, sorry but to me that's beyond comprehension. How could you not get a copy of your contract? So you saw it, signed it and handed it back? What if they decide to f* you over (I hope they dont)?
Jeez! I have seen my contract it's just that they refused to give me a copy prior to the RP process. Now I am having to ask around the office to find someone willing to dig it out for me.
Cheer guys, so definitely not one month but it may be a week or no notice at all (according to formatted soul)?
If you are on Probation...no need for notice period.. If you have completed your probation..its one month...
30 Day for Companies
60 Days for Semi-Government
is standard
As Speed said, During your probationary period u can quite on one week notice...
Good luck
Geez, you started your job without even seeing your contract and getting a copy of it? Anyway Im not helping here, Speed is right.
Law. You can give 1 week notice in advance to your Employer and leave. Same Law goes to your Employer.
Once you have completed the probationary period only then notice period will apply as per the Contract.
Source:
- A study Conducted by FriedUnicorn - Vol I (September,1999)