Question: I am staying with my husband in Doha. Last week, my husband met with an accident and the doctor has advised complete rest for two weeks. I am working in a private company, and when I requested for leave (to take care of my husband), the management did not approve it. Is there any provision in labour law to avail medical leave to look after one’s husband when needed? Please advise. 

SA, Doha

Answer: There is no provision in the Qatar labour law for granting medical leave for working woman to take care of husband who is sick. In such circumstances, the employee has to avail the general leave to take care of their dependents. According to Article 82 of labour law, an employee is eligible for medical leave with pay after three months from the commencement of employment provided that the employee should provide certificate from the physician to prove his or her sickness. 

Penalty for giving
false testimony

Q: A machine in our company got damaged and the company started deducting from my salary to make up for that loss. Actually, I am not involved in any negligence. I have approached the labour department challenging the management’s decision. Now the case is before the court and I have included the supervisor as witness. The supervisor may give false statement against me. If the supervisor makes false statement against me, can I take any action against him? What is the provision as per law? Please advise.

CN, Doha

A: As per Article 172 of Penal law, whoever, being a witness, after taking the oath before  judicial or investigative authorities, gives false testimonies or withholds all or some of the information of which he is aware regarding the facts of the case concerning which his testimony is being made, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years and a fine not exceeding 10,000 Qatari riyals. 
Unable to attend
court hearing

Q: I received a notice from court with regard to a civil case filed by a friend. We (some friends) are included as the witness. The hearing is scheduled for next week and I am unable to attend due to sickness. What action will the court take if a witness is unable to attend the hearing? Please advise. 

SA, Doha

A: According to Article 282 of Civil and Commercial Procedure Law, if the witness has an excuse which prevents him from appearing and the court accepts this excuse, the court may travel to hear his evidence. However, if the court is constituted of more than one judge, it may depute one of its judges for this purpose. The litigants shall be invited to be present when this testimony is given. The court Registry shall make a minute of this testimony which shall be signed by the judge and the Registry of the court.

Modifications at
leased property

Q: We have agreed with landlord to lease a property for business and we require some additional modification at the property for our purpose. We have entered into lease contract with the landlord. But now the landlord did not complete the agreed modification and we are unable to use the premises. We have requested the landlord to complete the modifications and he refuses to do the agreed modification. Also, he refused to terminate the lease contract. What is the remedy available in such circumstances? Please advise, what action can we take? 

LS, Doha

A: If the premise leased is unfit for the purpose, the lessee can approach the rental dispute committee for termination of the contract. It is duty of the lessor to deliver the leased property and its annexes in a condition fit for its intended use, either as agreed or according to the nature of the property. As per Article 591 of the Civil Laws, if the leased property is delivered in such a condition that it is unfit for the use, the lessee may demand either the termination of the lease agreement or a reduction of the rent equivalent to the loss of use; in both cases, lessee is entitled to claim compensation, if compensation is due without prejudice to his right to oblige the lessor to perform all necessary.


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