The Traffic Awareness Department at the General Directorate of Traffic, in cooperation with the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Interior, organized an open awareness webinar on traffic safety. The program was open to all groups of society to participate, including representatives of companies, institutions and individuals. Officers from different departments at the traffic including Traffic Awareness Department, Traffic Safety, Patrols, Traffic Investigation and Licensing Department presented different topics in the seminar presided by First Lieutenant Ahmed bin Hamad Al Thani, officer at the Traffic Safety. Captain / Saud Abdullah Al-Hamad - Officer of the Traffic Safety Department presented the tasks that the traffic personnel perform in regulating the movement of vehicles, supervising and being present on the road to reduce the occurrence of accidents and to control violators of traffic rules. He also noted that the department carries out studies on all traffic diversions and issues permits related to road closures and plans. He also explained the classification of traffic accidents and the importance of the presence of radars to control traffic on the roads and prevent exceeding the speeds specified for each road, and announcing the locations of radars on the roads and the specified speed for each road. Captain Hamad Talib Al-Marri from the Patrols and Traffic Investigation Department addressed the role that traffic patrols play on the roads in monitoring and organizing the movement of vehicles. He said that in light of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, traffic patrols work to confirm the adherence to the precautionary guidelines of the authorities by road users, especially with regard to limiting the number of passengers, and wearing masks. He also stressed the importance of adhering to traffic rules and avoiding committing traffic offenses. Captain Abdel Wahid Gharib Al-Anezi from the Traffic Awareness Department presented a set of traffic advice and instructions related to road safety, reviewing a number of awareness programs prepared by the Department in this regard. The program concluded with the presentation of Lieutenant Yousef Fahad Al-Ali, Officer of the Licensing Affairs Department, in which he explained the tasks that the Department carries out, such as supervising the work of the external sections related to driving licenses and vehicle licenses of all kinds, issuing traffic certificates. He explained the procedures followed in issuing and cancelling vehicle licenses, and issuing driving licenses of all kinds and documenting all data related to mechanical vehicles and driving licenses.

Qatar government has been proactively continuing its effort to implement reforms on workers welfare and related policies governing the entry, exit and residency of expatiates. Another milestone decision from the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs (ADLSA) has been issued through the Government Communication Office asserting Qatar’s efforts to protect the interests of employers and employees alike as it announced today a major step forward in its labour reform programme, introducing a non-discriminatory minimum wage and removing the No-Objection Certificate requirement to change jobs for employees. According to, Law No. 17 of 2020 on Setting the Minimum Wage for Workers and Domestic Workers sets the minimum wage for all private sector workers, including domestic workers, at QAR 1,000 per month as a basic wage, as well as QAR 500 per month allocated by the employer for accommodation expenses and QAR 300 per month for food, unless the employer already provides adequate food or accommodation for the employee or domestic worker. ADLSA will be working with employers to update all employment contracts where workers earn less than the amount established by the new Law, which will come into force after 6 months of its publication in the official gazette. The minimum wage was decided following extensive consultations with a specialised national committee composed of relevant authorities in Qatar to consider the matter. The law is the first of its kind in the Middle East and will provide additional stability to Qatar’s labour market. In light of the above, a Minimum Wage Committee will be formed and tasked with frequently studying and reviewing the minimum wage of workers and domestic workers. The government also introduced Decree Law No. 18 of 2020 amending some provisions of Labour Law No. 14 of 2004 and Decree Law No. 19 of 2020 amending some provisions of 2004 Law No. 21 of 2015 regulating the entry and exit of expatriates and their residence, which protects the rights of both employers and employees and facilitates the employer change process. This will drive greater competition in Qatar’s labour market by allowing employees to change employers and allowing employers to attract the best talent on the local market. As part of our efforts to boost the effectiveness of the Wage Protection System, the new amendments to the Labour Law prescribe stricter penalties for employers who fail to pay their workers’ wages and introduce penalties for employers who fail to provide adequate accommodation for their workers, in line with the standards established by the Ministry. The new amendments also include increasing the number of labour dispute resolution committees in an effort to tackle the number of labour disputes, facilitate workers’ access to the rights, and expedite legal proceedings. HE Yousuf Mohamed Al Othman Fakhroo, Minister of Administrative Development, Labour & Social Affairs, said: “The State of Qatar is committed to creating a modern and dynamic labour market. In line with Qatar Vision 2030, these new laws mark a major milestone in this journey and will benefit workers, employers, and the nation alike.” Attracting the desired combination of migrant workers, protecting their rights, and ensuring their safety is part of the human development goals of Qatar’s 2030 National Vision. With today’s announcement, Qatar delivers on its promise to expand the labour market in a manner that drives competition, boosts investment in the local economy, and drives economic growth in Qatar. To ensure compliance with the changes, ADLSA is working with competent authorities to upgrade the Wage Protection System, strengthen the capacity of inspectors, and apply stricter penalties to companies that violate the law.