Title

Qatar: Ministry of Civil Service Affairs and Housing Decree No. 17 of 2005 on Workers’ Living Quarters

Date of adoption

25 September 2005

Entry into force

29 December 2005

Text versions

Arabic

Source:

–          Official Journal Issue No. 12 (2005), p. 1915. Retrieved from: Al-Meezan Qatar Legal Portal, accessed: 5 November 2013.

–          http://www.almeezan.qa/LawPage.aspx?id=1872&language=ar

Abstract

Employers are required to allocate accommodation for workers that is located outside of residential areas and that meets the health conditions and specifications as stipulated in this decree (Art. 1).

Workers’ accommodations should fulfill the following criteria (Art. 2):

1. Each individual must be allocated no less than four meters of empty space in the common room.
2. Each room must host no more than four workers in residential units and no more than eight workers in temporary residences.
3. Entrances, hallways, rooftops and basements cannot be used to accommodate workers.
4. Windows must prevent the infiltration of dust and must be fitted with metal screens to prevent the entry of insects.
5. Each room must be properly ventilated and allow the entry of sufficient natural light. It must also be fitted with appropriate artificial lighting.

Employers commit to fitting each accommodation with the following (Art. 3):

1. A bed, mattress and sheets for each worker. The use of double or multiple deck beds is not allowed.
2. Closets to store clothes
3. Appropriate and sufficient air conditioning devices
4. One water-cooler for every twenty workers fitted with the three-candle pottery filter. The use of string or fiber filters is prohibited.

Art. 4 requires that kitchen walls be covered with porcelain up to the ceiling and that the floors be covered with a non-slippery material. It further lists the equipment that must be available in each kitchen.

Art. 5 requires employers to allocate one bathroom for every eight workers which must meet the following conditions (Art. 5):

1. The walls must be covered with porcelain and the floors must be covered with a non-slippery material.
2. The water heater must be placed outside the bathroom.
3. The bathroom must be well lit and ventilated and regularly supplied with appropriate sanitizers and cleaning supplies.

Art. 6 lists the maintenance work the employer must conduct on a regular basis.

Art. 7 sets the conditions for temporary worker’s residences.

Art. 8 prohibits the use of workers’ accommodations for any other purpose than to accommodate them. If the workers’ food is stored in the accommodation units then it must be done in accordance with health and safety regulations.

Art. 9 requires the employer to equip the residences with fire alarms and extinguishers in accordance with the requirements of the civil defense.

Art. 10 requires residences to be equipped with first aid kits in proportion to the number of workers residing there.

Art. 11 requires employers to hire workers to clean and supervise each building that is allocated for workers’ residence.

Cutting the workers’ wages in exchange for providing them with accommodation, fitting it with equipment or maintaining it, is prohibited (Art. 12).