In May 2021, the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (ADLSA)*^[1] of Qatar introduced a new Qatar Ministerial Decision No. 17/2021 to set working hours and other measures to protect workers from heat stress. The new Ministerial Decision repeals the Qatar Ministerial Decision No. 16/2007. The main changes introduced with the new legislation are:

1. The extension of the prohibited hours of work in outdoor workplaces (where workers are exposed to weather conditions such as solar radiation, humidity and heat) from 01 June to 15 September, starting from 10 am, until 3.30 pm.

2. The obligation for employers to prepare a risk assessment to mitigate the risk of heat stress.

3. The responsibility of the principal contractor to coordinate prescribed heat stress mitigation measures when two or more employers undertake activities simultaneously at one work site and their obligation to collaborate.

4. The adoption of the wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index to assess and monitor the level of occupational heat stress. All work must stop work if the WBGT rises beyond 32.1 °C throughout the year.