A Public Holiday with a Difference
Type
E-journal
Date
15 Jan 2012
Jurisdiction
Qatar
Taxonomy
Sport, Contract & Conditions of Employment, Rights & Duties of Employees & Employers, Companies & Corporate Bodies
Copyright
LexisNexis
Relevant company
Clyde & Co
Legal reference
Qatar Emiri Decision No. 29/1996, Qatar Law No. 14/2004, Qatar Council of Ministers Resolution No. 6/2008, Qatar Council of Ministers Decision No. 33/2009, Qatar Emiri Decree No. 80/2011
Analysis
Qatar Emiri Decree No 80/2011 (Decree) was published in the Official Gazette on 15 January 2012 and with its publication the majority of employees in Qatar were granted a new public holiday, however this particular public holiday is a public holiday with a difference; it is in fact a National Sports Day
The Decree provides that Ministries, Government Departments, public sector institutions as well as other organisations, including those in the private sector, shall organise sporting activities on this day for their employees to participate in. The Decree also provides that Qatari's National Sports Day will be held on the second Tuesday of February in each year; this year that means Tuesday 14 February.
Companies in Qatar have already embraced this new initiative and various sporting activities have been planned; football tournaments and cricket matches would appear to be amongst the most popular.