Sick Leave in Qatar: The 2 + 4 Week Pay Structure

The current Labour Law structure

Qatar Labour Law No. 14 of 2004 sets out a staged sick-leave rule in Article 82. A worker must first have completed three months from the beginning of employment to qualify under this provision, and the illness must be proved by a certificate from a physician approved by the employer.

The payment structure is:

• First 2 weeks: full wage
• Following 4 weeks: half wage
• After those 6 paid weeks: further sick leave is without wage, subject to the law's continuation and termination provisions
• At the end of the 12th week: employment may be terminated if a competent physician's report establishes that the worker cannot resume work

This is why a page saying only “Qatar gives 12 weeks sick leave” is incomplete.

The medical certificate is not optional decoration

The statutory rule requires the worker to prove sickness with a medical certificate from a physician approved by the employer. The certificate is part of the legal process, not just a courtesy note for HR.

The employee should therefore notify the workplace promptly and use the approved medical route instead of relying on an informal message alone.

A useful timeline

First three months of employment: the Article 82 entitlement does not start until the statutory three-month threshold has passed.

After the threshold: the first two weeks of qualifying sick leave are fully paid.

Weeks 3–6: half wage applies to the subsequent four weeks.

After week 6: further sick leave may continue without wage until the worker returns, resigns or is separated for health reasons, subject to the statutory conditions.

End of week 12: a specific termination rule can apply when competent medical evidence establishes inability to resume work.

A concise notification

Subject: Sick Leave – Medical Certificate

Dear [Manager/HR],

I am unable to attend work because of illness and am obtaining the medical certificate required for sick leave. Please record my absence from [date] and let me know if the certificate must be submitted through a specific clinic, system or HR channel.

Regards,

[Name]

For a longer illness, update the employer using the procedure in the workplace rather than repeatedly sending vague “I need more days” messages.

What this page should not claim

Do not state that every worker in Qatar gets the same sick-leave package. The Labour Law has a defined scope and other employment regimes can differ. Do not state that all 12 weeks are paid. Do not turn the law's 12-week termination provision into a claim that employment automatically ends after 12 weeks; the article specifically ties that step to medical evidence and the statutory conditions.

These qualifications help keep the guidance accurate and prevent the rule from being overstated.

Common questions

How many paid sick-leave weeks are provided in Qatar? Six paid weeks under Article 82: two weeks at full wage and four weeks at half wage, after the statutory three-month employment threshold.

What happens after six weeks? Further sick leave can be without wage under the law until return, resignation or health-related separation, subject to the statutory rules.

Is a medical certificate required? Yes. The worker must prove sickness with a certificate from a physician approved by the employer.

Can employment end after 12 weeks? The law permits termination at the end of the 12th week when a competent physician's report shows the worker cannot resume work.

Source note

Primary source: Qatar Ministry of Labour, Labour Law No. 14 of 2004, Article 82. The official PDF also contains Articles 79–85 covering annual leave, sick leave, Hajj leave and leave-related employment protections.

Disclaimer: General employment information only. Employment contracts, special regimes and later legal changes may affect the procedure that applies to an individual worker.