Qatar hikes minimum wage to TK23,000 as World Cup looms

Qatar has scaled up the minimum wage of workers to around TK23,000 ($275) a month, as the Gulf state overhauls its labour laws amid international scrutiny in the run up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The labour ministry of the country announced that the new scale is effective for all workers from Saturday, reports state-owned news channel TRT World. 

It became mandatory for all newly signed contracts from August 30, and will now also be compulsory for existing employment agreements.

It requires that all workers, including domestic staff, be paid at least $275 for a month of full-time work - equivalent to around $1.30 (TK110) an hour.

Employers are also required to either provide bed and board, or an additional $213 (TK18023) a month as allowance for food and accommodation.

Previously, there was a temporary minimum wage set at $206 (TK17400) a month.

With the the 2022 FIFA World CUP looming, both the demand and the number of migrant workers in Qatar's infrastructure construction sector have picked up. More than 2 million migrant workers are now working in the country, according to media reports.

However, there has been allegations of torturing workers and forcing them into various jobs, including the construction of stadiums for the FIFA World CUP.

In response to widespread criticism over the allegations, Qatar then decided to ammend the labor law.