Time & Attendance Software in Qatar

Qatar's Wage Protection System (WPS) is a mandatory electronic salary transfer system operated through Qatar Central Bank that requires private sector employers to pay employees' wages via approved financial channels and submit monthly payroll confirmation data. Introduced in 2015, Qatar WPS ensures workers receive their salaries on time and enables the Ministry of Labour to monitor compliance. Employers who fail to comply face fines, work permit blocks, and potential licence suspension. AITIME generates payroll exports formatted for Qatar WPS submission automatically from verified attendance data, covering all employees including those in Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA) zones.

AITIME is purpose-built for Qatar — it integrates with ZKTeco and Hikvision biometric terminals across Doha offices and contractor sites, generates Qatar WPS-formatted payroll exports, tracks LMRA work permit compliance in real time, enforces summer outdoor hour restrictions under Qatar Labour Law, and supports the Kafala reform employee mobility framework. The bilingual Arabic and English interface is designed for Doha HR teams managing mixed Qatari national and expatriate workforces across industries including energy, healthcare, aviation, and telecommunications.

Under Qatar's Wage Protection System, employers must pay all private sector workers' salaries through Qatar Central Bank-approved financial channels — typically bank transfer or a Wage Protection Card — and submit a monthly SIF (Salary Information File) confirming payment details. The submission deadline is typically within 7 days of the wage payment date. Failure to submit results in escalating penalties including fines, new work permit blocks, and in severe cases, company licence suspension. AITIME automates the WPS SIF file generation from verified attendance and payroll data, ensuring Doha companies meet their monthly WPS obligations accurately and on time.

Qatar's 2020 Kafala reform removed the requirement for most workers to obtain employer permission before changing jobs, reducing a key source of worker exploitation. For HR and attendance systems, this means employee turnover can happen faster and more frequently — making real-time headcount visibility critical. AITIME helps Qatar employers manage Kafala reform impacts by tracking live headcount, automating offboarding workflows when employees leave, maintaining accurate work permit records throughout employment, and generating LMRA-compliant reports. QFZA free zone companies at Ras Bufontas and Um Alhoul benefit particularly from AITIME's rapid onboarding tools for new hires.

Under Qatar Labour Law, the standard working week is 48 hours (8 hours per day, 6 days per week). During the hottest months — June, July, and August — outdoor workers are prohibited from working between 10:00 AM and 3:30 PM under the summer work ban, a rule enforced by the Ministry of Labour with significant fines for violations. During Ramadan, working hours are reduced to 6 hours per day or 36 hours per week for Muslim employees. Overtime is paid at a minimum of 125% of the basic wage, rising to 150% for work on rest days and public holidays. AITIME applies all of these rules automatically based on shift type, location, and employee classification.