Qatar’s Ministry of Labour has held a second consultative session with companies listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange as the country advances its plan to increase the employment of Qatari nationals in the private sector.
The session, chaired by Minister of Labour HE Dr Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, brought together chief executive officers and senior management representatives from listed companies to discuss the implementation of the Private Sector Nationalisation Law, including targets, mechanisms and challenges facing employers.
The meeting follows an earlier consultation with state-owned companies and public benefit entities and forms part of the ministry’s efforts to engage private-sector employers ahead of the law’s implementation.
Nationalisation targets to vary by sector
Al Marri said Qatar’s listed companies are important contributors to the national economy and will be key partners in meeting the targets under the nationalisation plan.
The plan will set nationalisation targets based on establishment categories and targeted sectors. It will also introduce a Nationalisation Award to recognise companies and Qatari nationals that demonstrate strong performance in advancing nationalisation objectives.
The minister said the consultative process is intended to identify practical mechanisms for implementing the law while giving companies an opportunity to raise concerns and submit proposals.
Employers face new reporting and compliance requirements
Under the plan, private-sector companies will have several responsibilities related to workforce data and employment practices.
These include updating information on Qatari and non-Qatari employees every six months, certifying workplace and disciplinary regulations and employment contracts, and paying employees through Qatar’s Wage Protection System.
Companies will also be required to use the Basher platform, notify the Ministry of Labour about appointments and terminations, and meet applicable nationalisation and employment targets.
The ministry will, in turn, provide employers with advance notice before the law comes into effect and clarify the requirements they will need to meet. It will also outline violations and applicable consequences for non-compliance, provide incentive support and clarify any restrictions that may apply to private-sector employers.
The ministry plans to review the nationalisation plan with private-sector stakeholders and assess its effectiveness two years after implementation.
Sector regulators to play a role in implementation
Sector regulators will also have responsibilities under the framework, including aligning nationalisation targets with the specific requirements and workforce realities of individual sectors.
Their role will include incorporating nationalisation requirements into supervision and licensing processes, monitoring companies’ compliance and submitting periodic reports. Regulators will also support qualification and training pathways aligned with sector-specific workforce needs.
The ministry said it will work with private-sector companies to prepare Qatari students for employment, with the aim of developing a pipeline of qualified national talent and strengthening employers’ ability to recruit and deploy Qatari employees.
The initiative forms part of Qatar’s broader workforce and economic development objectives under Qatar National Vision 2030.
Al Marri said the success of the nationalisation plan will depend on coordination between the Ministry of Labour, sector regulators and private-sector employers. The ministry plans to continue using consultative sessions as a platform to discuss implementation challenges, exchange expertise and refine the approach to meeting nationalisation objectives.