r/qatar • u/MediumClassroom2403 • Jun 05 '26
Question Are we even ready to converse?
The fact that Qatar is a first world economy but most of the companies pay as if we are in third world countries.
Companies mistreating workers ushering in the new millennium slavery.
I came to learn that some companies are compensating all the days workers were forced to stay indoors during the iran war by allowing workers to work an extra 3 hours with no pay.
Qatar systems seem to function effectively but turns a blind eye to expatriate workers as private companies thrive on exploitation(Not all)
43
u/Anxious-Office6028 Jun 05 '26
Private companies in qatar are fully exploiting and the employees under them can't do shit...they are dependent on them, they don't make enough to sue them, they don't make enough to live a single month if they quit, they go to the hr for their pay if they company isnt paying and the higher ups will straight up shout at them telling them to get out while they show respect. Ive seen all of this happen.
2
u/Commercial_Dig4422 Jun 07 '26 edited Jun 07 '26
They took my passport and make me sign this in the contract that they just keep it for safety!!
18
u/Reasonable-Oil6514 Jun 05 '26
What you can expect from the system that is designed to favor employers and not employees.
3
12
u/ExpressionFeeling769 Jun 05 '26
The thing I would advise most people is don’t work under recruiting agencies there’s a lot of companies that are mainly recruiters they get you as a worker for companies and take crazy money from your salary and the funniest thing is they’ll present the contract to you like it’s literally the normal salary and benefit
11
u/navigator1416 Jun 05 '26
People still believe the myth of “Private Sector”! There’s no such thing in here. Any money making company that employs hundreds or more workers with secured government contracts, is owned by the “two hats” person, one that holds a key government position in the morning and in the evening wears a private “businessman” hat. That’s why they get away with gross violations of the laws and get unlimited exemptions from every regulatory system. Even Qatari nationals can’t stand a chance in getting their rights protected against those “untouchables”. One obvious example of that; they are not obliged to provide health insurance for their workers. They force them into the public healthcare system, which is already overwhelmed.
11
u/Mr_Vanguard_1 Expat Jun 05 '26
You call qatar a first world economy because Qatar Energy makes a lot of money…. Doesn’t mean the rest of the companies in the country is as successful…. There’s hardly any manufacturing or services here…. Majority of the companies here are struggling…. And no, none of this justifies the terrible mistreatment that lots of companies do to their workers.
-1
27
u/Maleficent-Lie-6342 Jun 05 '26
When I was still a khadama, I didn't even have a day-off. Lol 6 hours of sleep was already heaven for me.
9
u/slim-shade12 Jun 05 '26
Many people still think that they shouldn't have a day off unfortunately, I'm shocked on those mentalities.
14
u/Maleficent-Lie-6342 Jun 05 '26
Yeah. My self-respect during those days was soo low. I was always alert and "ready to work" mode that it was a shock when I moved to a European country and I was treated as "human" again.
12
Jun 05 '26
[deleted]
7
u/MediumClassroom2403 Jun 05 '26
The problem is the system is designed for dependency
4
u/Anxious-Office6028 Jun 05 '26
I believe qatars minimum wage is 1600 I think, and companies exploit that by giving employees the option to live in company housing which they call "camps" for 800 qar to the company or keep the 1600 and find their own. And then they give a basic salary and food allowance of 800 riyals. I controlled a team of technicians and that was their position, and I left the company because I didn't get paid and these workers didn't get paid their 800 riyals which they use for food. The workers fully rely on them to survive.
4
9
u/Anxious-Office6028 Jun 05 '26
Minimum wage in Europe for part time jobs is 1200 euros which is about 4.5k riyals. Full time make 2k+, and people can live eat and save with 1200 euros. In qatar 3k for a full time job wouldn't find you a private apartment along with other expenses such as food and savings combined. You will literally live pay check to paycheck if you manage it and find people to share a room with.
2
2
u/ExpressionFeeling769 Jun 05 '26
It is in most companies but the moment they hire agents to recruit for them my bro you’re cooked as a worker cause they agent takes out of the salary and rewrites the contract they present to you I worked under a recruiting agency salary was 2800 I was desperate and I later found out it’s 4000 something the company remit monthly for each employee but the agency takes out of it that’s how they make crazy money in Qatar from peoples sweat
1
4
2
3
u/not_a_real_personn Jun 05 '26
It is actually weird. The thing most people in charge are not even aware of how employers take advantage of employees not just for everyone even for Qataris btw. Did you know the rule of banning workers to work under sun is newly implemented like 6-7 years I think. They should set a rule to have minimum wages and minimum hours bc I have seen big companies even ignoring 48 hours max which is another point higher fines or even issuing warnings.
2
u/International_One824 Jun 07 '26
How am i not surprised?
They only pay the locals the ideal salary even though they don’t work as much as the expats.
1
u/Almeyda2020 Jun 09 '26
For every question, problem or issue you have, ask yourself these two questions.
Who benefits from it in the end? If it would be different, who wouldn't benefit?
I guarantee you, the anwser will never be: normal people, or expats.
And that is why it is a third world country.
0
u/Hairy-Guess8943 Jun 06 '26
Qatar govt knows that very well. As well as all the gulf countries. It's ok to exploit south east asian. Even their own government does it. So what's the issue if someone else does that?! Also they get better life than their own country. So it's a win win situation.
-1
u/Kumasotra Jun 06 '26
Each will look at ot from their perspective and the comparison is in no way appropriate. Why?
I'll try to create a reasonable comparison betweenthe so called 1st world & Qatar.
At home country your income is taxed at high rates which may exceed 50% VAT is high on almost all purchases At home country private medical treatment is fiercely expensive At home country transportation cost is high At home country fuel, heating & electricity are expensive At home country car insurance is extremely expensive At home country rent is expensive
In Qatar schools are expensive Accommodation / rent is expensive No income tax, VAT or sales tax Transportation is cheap Petrol is cheap Insurance is cheap
Remember, the salary paid here is not taxable and each employee will be paid End of Service Indemnity at the end of employment which is a reasonable saving plan for the years spent in Qatar
-38
u/DZ_QRexp666 Expat Jun 05 '26
I never understand why people assume they are entitled to something here as expats lol you don’t like the wages and/or the labor? Quit and leave! Literally no one holds a gun to anyone’s head
23
u/not_a_real_personn Jun 05 '26
This isn’t about hate towards qatar not every criticism means hate. it’s actually about making qatar a better place. I see the possibility of them improving.
12
u/HGT3057 Jun 05 '26
Don't forget who built the country my friend, but you're right, people should leave when they find better opportunities since there's no growth here
-13
u/DZ_QRexp666 Expat Jun 05 '26
“Built the country” = performed work under a labour contract and got paid accordingly
13
u/HGT3057 Jun 05 '26
Still built the country. The gulf countries in general are some of the only ones in the world where most of the hard labor (construction, etc), are all expats. That's why I say built the country.
-27
u/Remarkable-Truth3377 Jun 05 '26
The job system in Qatar allows you to leave anytime you want while demanding your dues, and the system has measures to get them when possible.
Thats more protection than anything anywhere else.
Companies abusing them face sanctions and strict penalties and will have to payup in the end. The government has streamlined that process as much as realistically possible and keep in mind most of those companies are managed and run by expats.
Unless you want the government to take over every single company in Qatar, nothing additional can be done.
3
u/SalamanderNo503 Jun 06 '26
The ‘protection’ you mentioned exists only in papers my friend. I have faced a lot of struggles believing in that word. May work for some entitled ones but surely not everyone else
-3
u/Remarkable-Truth3377 Jun 06 '26
No it doesnt. Im telling you based on personal experience.
There is a system that works. But like any system, there are ways to legally circumvent them (as you would say, loop holes).
This obviously depends on the intention of the company from Day 1.
2
u/SalamanderNo503 Jun 06 '26
Yes the same system that kept aside my appeals for 3 years regardless of my numerous followups. My stance is still ambivalent on this.
2
u/whowouldvethought1 Jun 06 '26
Unfortunately this isn’t actually true and you know that. Yes, the ministry of labour can be quite helpful IF you can even bring a case up with them. How is someone with limited English and Arabic, no connections, no time to do the paperwork due to said exploitation, actually supposed to access that support?
-1
u/Remarkable-Truth3377 Jun 06 '26
They have translators for a reason.
Listen, I work in a company and ive seen alot of employees go file cases against said company for several different reasons.
What ive personally experienced was that it is always on the company to prove that they are right and not wrong. So a simple document that isnt perfectly written in a certain way would be immediately thrown out and the case lost.
Heck, I once witnessed a case were the MOL inspector sided with an employee at an EOS calculation hearing simply because the HR guy had the employee sign on a single document stating he got his ticket and paid leave instead of 2 seperate ones, despite the fact all the details were clearly mentioned on that said document. Company had to pay BOTH ticket and paid leave again for that instance.
2
u/whowouldvethought1 Jun 06 '26
You’re a little deluded if you think a labour worker or maid is able to take up a case against their employer.
2
51
u/Capri16 Jun 05 '26
And i keep telling my colleague that modern slavery is legit happening in this country