Minimum wage for private sector workers in Qatar
What is the lowest salary I can legally pay a worker in Qatar?
The situation
Qatar's minimum wage is QAR 1,000 basic a month. Employers must also give QAR 300 for food and QAR 500 for housing unless they provide food and housing in kind.
The law
- Law No. 17 of 2020 on minimum wage: Basic minimum wage QAR 1,000 plus food QAR 300 and housing QAR 500 if not provided in kind
- Wage Protection System (Ministry of Labour): Wages paid through banks via WPS so the Ministry can check timely payment
What it means for you
A worker who arranges their own food and housing must get at least QAR 1,800 a month. If you give company accommodation and meals, the basic must still be at least QAR 1,000. WPS data lets the Ministry see wages below the minimum, so underpayment is easy to spot and arrears may be claimed.
What to do
- List each worker's basic wage and in kind benefits.
- Top up anyone below the minimum.
- Pay any arrears through WPS.
- Write the benefits clearly into contracts.
Law number and amounts come from prior knowledge plus the MOL site; confirm current figures on mol.gov.qa.
We can do this for youPayroll set-up and monthly run through the Wage Protection System (WPS): QAR 600