The College of Law at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), in collaboration with Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC), a  specialized civil and commercial court in the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), held an online panel discussion examining employment law issues in Qatar. 

Chaired by the dean of the College of Law, Susan L. Karamanian, the event brought together legal practitioners, academics, and other experts. A distinguished panel included Helen Mountfield QC, Judge, QICDRC; Christopher Grout, Registrar, QICDRC; and Maha Tawfik, Senior Specialist, Labor Affairs and Monitoring, Employment Standards Office, QFC, Doha.

The session touched upon key developments in practice and procedure, with an emphasis on perspectives from within and beyond Qatar. Speakers discussed topics such as the desirability and enforceability of non-compete clauses and other restrictive covenants in employment contracts, equality in the workplace, and the importance of establishing and following fair and transparent disciplinary procedures.

Commenting on the event, Dean Karamanian of the College of Law, said: “We are pleased to have been able to share some practical insights on employment disputes from legal experts. Our ongoing cooperation with QICDRC, one of the key legal institutions in Qatar, enhances knowledge sharing, legal education, and training. We look forward to further cooperation with QICDRC to benefit the legal and business community and heighten awareness about contemporary legal issues in Qatar.”

Mr. Grout said: “It continues to be a delight to run these topical legal webinars in conjunction with the College of Law at HBKU. Today’s webinar explored some really important issues relating to employment in Qatar, including a discussion on the law relating to restrictive covenants, as well as discrimination, with a particular emphasis on sex and disability discrimination. In addition, the webinar explored the importance of ensuring effective workplace grievance and disciplinary procedures which can, unfortunately, sometimes be overlooked. Overall, it was an excellent webinar which I hope was enjoyed by the impressive number of attendees.”

The College of Law regularly holds events that showcase its research interests and activities. Find out more by visiting cl.hbku.edu.qa.