I am working in a private company since December 21, 2008. I went on my first vacation with paid leave after two years, and the second vacation a year later. For the third vacation, I took cash instead of the air ticket for 2012, which I was entitled to on December 21, 2012.
I want to quit my job by February 2013. Will I get end of service benefits, bonus (which I was getting in March every year) and an air ticket?
End of service benefits are not a contentious issue with companies, but workers’ share in annual profits or the reward that companies annually give to workers is something that needs clarification. In this regard, the law says the annual bonus is a form of wage paid to the worker against work done within a certain period. This includes allowances such as bonuses and rewards given to workers annually or occasionally, regardless of how these are calculated.
According to the labour law, the annual reward is a form of wage regardless of whether the source of obligation is a provision of law, the work contract, internal work regulations or a tradition annually followed by the company.
Wages include what the employer gives to the worker in addition to his agreed salary, such as the annual reward, which is based on the annual profit or loss.
Accordingly, all employees have the right to receive an annual reward.
In this regard, all workers are treated equally, including those whose services in the company end, for whatever reason, before the end of the company’s financial year. In the later case, the annual reward is delayed until budget settlement and the dues are calculated according to the period of service, or last year of service.
Concerning the air ticket, labour law No. 14/2004 states that the employer must return the worker to the place from where he was brought to Qatar, or to an agreed destination, at his expense within two weeks of the end of his services in the company.
In case the employee has transferred his sponsorship to another company or employer before going back home, his new sponsor is responsible for returning him home.
This right is mentioned in the work contract prescribed by the Ministry of Labour, whereby the employer has to provide the employee a ticket at the end of his service, and annually when he goes on annual leave.
The law says if the employer does not return the worker to his home country at his expense, the Ministry of Labour will do that on his behalf and make the employer pay for it.
Next week, we will discuss the notice period for resignation.
