DOHA: Qatar will begin enforcing a law that ensures migrant workers get paid on time from November, labour ministry officials said on Wednesday.

The Wage Protection System (WPS) ─ trumpeted by the government as a “significant” reform ─ has been delayed from an initial start date of August 18 to allow companies more time to prepare for the change.

It is one of a number of measures that Qatar is expected to introduce to improve labour conditions following criticism by rights campaigners about the treatment of migrant workers.

“We will start applying the law on November 3rd,” labour ministry official Saleh Al-Shawi said at a press conference on Wednesday.

Any violations could mean imprisonment, and there are fines of up to 6,000 Qatari riyals ($1,650/1,460 euros), he said. —AFP

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play