Expats over 60 might soon be forced to retire and leave the country as authorities are studying a mandatory retirement law.
Qatar’s Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs are looking into the possibility of introducing a mandatory retirement law that would ask of expats aged 60 and above to collect their dues and leave the country.
Various local news outlets have been reporting about the upcoming law for months now, without there being any major development in the direction.
However, the move is said to be in support of fresh Qatari university graduates who have voiced a struggle finding jobs in the country.
Over the years, more Qataris have earned university degrees across various sectors, but positions have been already occupied by expats.
The Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs believes that putting an age limit to working in Qatar might “open the door to fresh and young talent to work on development projects”, Arabian Business quoted officials saying.
The impact of replacing experienced workers with inexperienced fresh graduates is still unclear, but the retirement age for Qataris working in the public sector is at 60 years.
Even though a Qatari with a public sector job can apply to extend working beyond 60, there’s no such age limit for people working in the private sector.
It has been reported that Qatar’s labor ministry is also looking into cases where expats entered the country under the basis of working on development projects, but never left after their work here was done.
