Servile masses, arise, arise!

Last year a new labor law passed in Qatar and was widely heralded as a step forward in labor relations, but the only thing I knew about it was that it legalized trade unions and strikes (of which Qatar has now had several). But according to this article from The Peninsula, the new law also stipulates an eight-hour workday, with the option of two overtime hours a day (paid at time and a quarter). Already, though, a newer law has been passed that allows more than two overtime hours a day for workers in particular fields: security, janitorial, construction. Way to exploit the already-exploited.

I'm also intrigued to see that end-of-service benefits are now mandatory. My original contract said that if I worked for CMU for 12 months, I would be paid a 13th month of salary. (This is the Qatari version of unemployment benefits.) My new contract does NOT mention this extra month's salary, but apparently I legally have to get it anyway. Yay!