Qatar Salary Secrets: Why Some Workers Don't Know What They Earn | Mexcreationtv
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The video addresses a critical issue faced by many workers in Qatar, particularly those in roles such as security guards, cleaners, waitresses, and domestic staff: a widespread lack of understanding regarding their actual earnings. The speaker explains that this confusion often stems from an inability to distinguish between the basic salary, total salary, various allowances, and deductions. In many cases, employees do not even possess or review their employment contracts, leaving them unaware of their legal entitlements. This knowledge gap frequently leads to misunderstandings with employers, unnecessary complaints, and in some instances, unjust resignations because workers cannot calculate what they should rightfully receive.
To clarify these financial concepts, the speaker breaks down the structure of pay according to Qatari labor laws, specifically referencing a gazette from March 2021 which sets the basic salary for an eight-hour workday at 1,000 Qatari Riyals. The total compensation is then adjusted based on whether the employer provides food and accommodation; if these benefits are included, they effectively reduce the cash component of the salary, whereas their absence would increase it. For example, a domestic worker might receive a lower cash amount because housing and food are provided by the family or company, while another worker in a similar role without these benefits would receive a higher cash payment to cover those living expenses. The speaker notes that many workers earn between 1,000 and 2,000 Riyals depending on their specific role, hours worked, and whether they are driving or performing specialized duties.
A significant barrier to financial transparency is the lack of payslips; most workers simply see a deposit in their bank account without knowing the breakdown of that amount. This opacity makes it difficult for employees to identify why colleagues in the same department or location receive different salaries, as factors like overtime hours (often 12-hour shifts with no days off), additional allowances, and unexplained deductions remain hidden. The speaker highlights that unauthorized or unclear deductions can further reduce take-home pay, sometimes by hundreds of Riyals, making it hard for workers to verify if their contract is being honored. Understanding how to calculate overtime, identify approved versus unapproved deductions, and review contractual agreements is presented as essential for protecting one's rights and ensuring every cent earned is accounted for according to the law.
Read the full video transcript
Yes, hi guys. Thank you so much for
coming back. Yes, today I just want to
show you Yes, do you know how much you
are supposed to earn? Yes, so
convincingly most of you in Qatar do not
know how much you are supposed to earn.
Yes, most of us who do not fully
understand what am I supposed to be
entitled to and how much am I supposed
to earn in this company? Remember
whether you're a security guard, you're
a cleaner, you're a waitress, you're a
caretaker, you are a cleaner, you're a
construction worker. Yes, most of us do
not fully understand what is our total
pay. Reason being that one of the reason
that we may do not differentiate between
what you call a basic salary and what
you call a total salary. Yes, you know
most of most of the times you find that
employees here in Qatar fully don't
understand what is their basic salary,
their allowance, their overtime and what
you call their deductions. And most of
you like with me, you don't have what
you call the employment contract with
you. So, it will be very hard for you to
know what is your actual pay in that
regard. Yes, I want to show you
practically
from other than talking the verbal, what
are you supposed to be entitled to?
Most of us work as a security guard.
That is number one. We work in these
houses on what you call
personal visas, domestic workers. You
are also part of the calculation because
you are paid salary at the end of it
all. Let us try to see. Yes, there are
two things first you need to understand
when you want to know how much you are
going to earn. This one we are talking
about money and this is what is entitled
to us, especially when it comes to the
Gulf countries. You find that two things
are definite as individual we supposed
to know before You are watching me from
wherever you are watching me. First of
all, you need to know what is your basic
salary. That is number one. Then you
should know what is the total salary.
Yes, the basic salary and what is the
total salary? Yes, most of you
you've been asking me questions. What is
my basic salary is this? I need to
calculate my salary mate. But the
question is that what is your basic
salary and what is your total salary?
That's what you need to know and
understand. Yes, when we look at the
basic salary
the basic salary is a fixed total amount
without any allowance.
Let's have for example you're being
recruited by this company. They will say
your basic salary is 1,600
including housing and transportation.
Yes, and your food. So meaning that this
is what you're going to be earning and
it is going to be part of your
responsibility
when you are receiving the basic salary.
And if someone say your total salary is
going to be this much, it's going to
include the basic allowance you plus
what we call it's going to include the
basic salary including what we call the
allowances. So for you to have the total
salary that you are supposed to receive
in that company, you are going to have
the basic salary which we call the basic
salary plus allowances,
allowances that may be given to you
which are going to give you what we call
the total salary.
Now someone is asking me, what makes are
you talking about? Yes, are you working
in Qatar? Are you in Qatar? Are you
employed by this employer? Are you
receiving salary? This you are supposed
to know because it is your right for you
to know how much you are being paid by
this company or how much you should
receive. Yes, I'm looking at your
contract, it is your right and you
should know how to calculate it. Most of
us we've been ended up being cheated.
Why? Because we take every single of
these words lightly and we end up making
having a lot of misunderstanding with a
company, complaining. Some of you you've
even resigned with no good reason
because you do not know what this means.
So, we have the basic salary and the
total salary. Most of us we come to the
companies, they will tell us the basic
salary
the basic salary is going to be
1,000
Qatari.
By the way, according to the law, the
basic salary for all employees, domestic
workers, cleaners, security guard is
supposed to be 1,000 for
8 hours.
That's what you know. It is gazetted
March 2021. Then, if this company is
going to give you food food allowance
if this company is going to give you
food
it's supposed to be 300.
If this company supposed to provide
accommodation
it's going to be 500. It's going to be
500 Qatari.
What does it mean? Most of you you've
come into the company. When you come to
the company, the company will say your
basic salary is going to be 1,000
basic salary is going to be
1,300
Qatari.
This company is right. Why do this
company is right? Because
1,000 1,000 according to the gazette of
March 21, a company supposed to give you
for 8 hours 1,500
as the basic salary.
But, if the company is giving you food,
then
it will cross out to this.
And if the company is giving you
accommodation, it will cross out to
this.
So, meaning that for 8 hours, if you're
working duty of 8 hours, you are
supposed to earn a basic salary of 1,000
for 8 hours.
That is what some of you do not know.
But, if this company is not giving you
food,
it will add this.
So, meaning for 8 hours, you are working
for 1,300.
And if the company is not giving you
accommodation, it will have to give you
500. So, meaning your basic salary or
your basic pay, according to the law, is
going to be 1,800.
But, something that I need to remind
you, most of the companies here in
Qatar, you will agree with me, they are
going to give you accommodation.
So, when the company gives you
accommodation, that means your total
salary or your basic salary is going to
be 1,300.
Are you working in the house? Are you
working as a domestic work? So, you
should know that your basic salary
you are in that house. The company is
going to give you what you call
accommodation. It's supposed to give you
food because you don't incur
transportation. It's the company giving
you transportation. That is why you find
most of you in these houses, you are
earning 1,200
if it is a good family, depending on
what kind of role you're doing.
You find some families are giving you
1,000.
You find some families are giving you
1,200,
1,300.
Reason being that
reason being that you are working more
than
8 hours.
So, they will give you this.
They are also part of gazetted the law.
So, most of the times, why most of us we
do not know how much we are earning.
One, why we do not know how much we are
earning, they are lot of number of
reasons that why some of us we do not
know how much money we are earning in
this company or how much we are supposed
to earn. And that is what I want to show
you.
So, I want to give you an example. Most
of us we've been in these companies for
the security guard, you'll find yourself
getting 1,800,
1,500, 1,900. And these are different
guards. They will be getting the same
amount of money. But what you need to
understand that most of the jobs as a
security guard, yes, most of these roles
or most of these locations we go to all
these jobs are for what we call 12
hours.
So, you work 12 hours
most times for 30 days
without off. So, you'll find that this
amount will include what we call
your overtime. It will include your food
and accommodation.
So, you find that most of the security
guards we we rely within this depending
on which company and depending on which
kind of contract or which kind of
project you're working with and which
kind of role. You may be a security
supervisor, team leader. So, you find
that some of the times it is ranging
between this because you are most of you
you are working 12 hours and you are
working 30 days. Let's go to cleaners.
Most of the cleaners you find them are
getting 1,300, 1,400,
1,500 at most. Reason being that you
find some of the cleaning companies,
they are going to give four
days off.
Four days off in a week. So, you'll find
yourself working 26 days off. So,
meaning this will includes it will be
inclusive of what you call the overtime.
If you are in that location and you are
you are working 12 hours, you'll find
you getting to 1,300, 1,400. This was
going to depend on which kind of other
additional remuneration this company is
going to give. Let's go to domestic
workers. Yes, to those that are working
in two the houses. This is how
definitely you need to know. 1,000,
1,200, 1,300, 1,500, some to 2,000
depending on what kind of role and which
house you go and what you are do. Some
of that that people who are good
drivers, you're a driver, you may give
you 1,300 depending because you
consistently work for more hours without
off. So, they will take what you call a
total, you get a total salary, not the
basic salary in this time. And this
total salary will include what you call
the allowances that will be attached to
you in that regard. Then, let us try to
look at the cleaners. The cleaners, most
of the cleaning company, you find them
some of them working 12 hours. So, what
they will be getting, if you look at
this, they will be getting what you call
total salary, but not what you call
basic salary at this time because the
basic salary according to the law, it's
supposed to be 1,300
if you're working for what you call
eight hours. So, definitely as an
individual, you must know. But the
question is that why is it that some of
us do not know how much you earn?
Yes, mix. Every time I get money from
the machine, I don't know what how much
the
the the has posted for me. I don't know
what is the actual amount of money the
company has deposited for me on my
account for that salary. But, I only go
to withdraw from the ATM. After I
withdraw from the ATM, I'll take the
money. One of the reasons why it is
because most of us
we do not know how to calculate what you
call the basic salary, the allowances,
and the total salary. We do not know the
difference between what you call the
basic salary, the total salary, and what
you call the allowances. Yes, let's say
for example, most of you you've been in
companies. The company is giving you
1,800
as your total salary. But, how many of
you
have you received or how many of of you
working these companies and the company
has given you what you call a payslip?
Most of us we don't receive payslips.
Most of us we don't even see our
payslips. We only receive the money
posted to our account. So, you will
definitely not know how much you are
supposed to get. You find most of our
individuals or colleagues we are working
within the same company or same
department, they may have different
salaries. Meaning that you cannot know
how much total all of you are earning.
Yes, I worked in one location, still the
same location with another person, but
another person getting more money
compared to me. So,
until I had to find out what is the
reason why he's earning more than me
when we are working the same hours and
we are working the same location.
So, apart from you finding out, you will
not be able to know why this person gets
1,800 and another person gets 1,900
because you do not have what you call
the payslips for you. Then, also some of
us we do not know what our allowances
is. Yes, the company is giving in
transportation. If the company is giving
you transportation, you are not going to
expect to get 1,900. Let's say for
example, you
You are working as a domestic worker.
The company is not giving you
accommodation, is not giving you food.
According to the law, it's supposed to
give you those allowances attached
because if it does not, then it is
violating what you call your right. So,
most of us you do not know what you call
the allowances, what we entitled to, and
what we are not entitled to at that
instance. So, you find that most of the
time we have those kind of issue and we
do not know how much we are supposed to
get. Yes, transportation allowance,
housing allowance, overtime pay. And
most of us we do not know how to
calculate overtime. Yes, I made a video
regarding to what you call the overtime
pay. How you can definitely be able to
calculate what you call your overtime.
Knowing your overtime, it will be very
easier for you to calculate the total
amount and you know this has been my
overtime. Most of us we work in
locations. You work for 8 hours, but you
work overtime for almost 4 4 hours, but
you do not know how to calculate these 4
hours, which is what you call the
overtime.
So, you'll find that you will not know
how much you are going to earn and you
don't know how much exactly how much of
money you earn per month. Then you look
at contracts. Some of us we do not have
contracts. You do not have contract or
some of you you have contracts, but you
cannot review the contract. The contract
is contrary for something different than
what is giving you. Yes, you have a
right to cross check what you call your
contract and understand what you are
entitled to. Then we look at we look at
deductions. By the way, there are some
deductions that are made that we do not
know. Let's say for example, this is a
bank. This is This is a You have a bank
in You have an account in QNB. And the
the the the company is going to deposit
The company is going to deposit money
for you in the QNB. Remember, there are
some deductions that may be made or
there are some deductions that the
company may may be may may try to deduct
from your amount to co-share it with you
and the bank. So, you will not know
because at the end of the month, you
just go to the ATM, you receive your
money, which is supposed to be given to
you because you do not know what is your
total salary and what you call your
basic salary, you know. So, sometimes I
keep on telling you what you should
know. First of all, know if you want to
know how much you earn, know what you
call your basic salary. Then, know what
you call your allowance. Then, overtime
pay, transportation allowance. Is it
applicable? Is it from your side or the
company is supposed to provide? Then,
then check what are those approved
deductions. Most of us who've been to
companies and every time the month is
paid, every time you receive your
paycheck, you have 20 rial missing, 10
rial missing, 15 rial missing, 20 rial
missing. Reason being that you do not
know what are these deductions. These
are called deductions. So, once you know
these deductions, these should be
approved deductions. Most of you working
as security guards, you'll argue with
me. There are deductions that are made
that you do not know and can explain to
you for you the deductions. Why this
deduction is made? But, these
deductions, you find that they may be
putting how much you're supposed to earn
at lower level. So, at the end of it
all, you will not know how much you are
being earned or how much you are
supposed to know. Then, we have some
other things like contractual
agreements. Yes, there are contractual
agreements. Yes, some of you Maybe some
of you got a loan from the uh from from
the the human resource or they gave you
a loan for emergencies. So, you find
that once that loan is being deducted,
deducted, deducted, deducted, you may
not be getting getting the same amount
of money compared to another person.
Hope I've tried to share something for
you you find this is important
important, don't hesitate to share,
don't hesitate to subscribe. Remember,
these are things that we supposed to
know in the Gulf. When it comes to
money, it is not all about I went
school, I did not go school, but you
need to know where every single cent of
what you work for goes and where you
where every single cent that you are
supposed to receive to be given to you
according to the law. Hope I've teach
you something for you. Thank you so
much. It's Mix trying to give you the
applicable part of this that definitely
you can be able to understand money,
basic allowance, why this, why this one,
why I receive this, and what could be
the reason. Yes, I'll this is I'll
upload this video, you'll be able to
watch and tell me in the comment section
what you feel is very hard, then I'll
tell you and I'll definitely guide you
on how to do it. Thank you so much for
support and thank you. Don't hesitate to
subscribe and don't hesitate to follow.
It's Mix from the Mix Creation TV.