SIF Validation Tool

Wages Protection System

Qatar Central Bank&
Ministry of Labour And Social Affairs

End User Guide

[1] SIF Validation Tool at a Glance

Content
1

SIF VALIDATION TOOL AT A GLANCE

GETTING STARTED

RUN THE VALIDATION TOOL

LANGUAGE SELECTION

VALIDATE THE SIF FILE

5.1
UPLOAD THE SIF FILE
5.2
RUN THE VALIDATION FOR THE SIF
5.3
VALIDATION RESULTS
5.4
SUCCESSFUL VALIDATION
5.5
UNSUCCESSFUL VALIDATION
5.5.1 Error Counter
5.5.2 Errors Grid
5.5.3 Export Error Grid
6

APPENDIX
6.1

LIST OF POTENTIAL VALIDATION ERRORS

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10
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[1] SIF Validation Tool at a Glance

1 SIF Validation Tool at a Glance

The State of Qatar is implementing Wages Protection System (WPS) which imposes the
requirement on the Employers (Regulated Entities) to pay the salaries to their employees
via electronic bank transfers. In the core of WPS implementation is the Salary Information
File (SIF). The Regulated Entities or Employers that are monitored by the Ministry of
Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA), have to create the SIFs and have to submit these files
to the banks for processing of salary payments.

The Validation Tool is provided with a main objective; to minimize the chances of SIF
rejections due to technical errors or incompliance with SIF format. The Regulated Entities
can use the Validation Tool prior to submitting SIFs to the banks, which will accelerate the
entire process of SIF processing, will make it more effective and will save the time and
effort for both, Regulated Entities and the bank officers.

act System Workflow Diagram

SIF Valid?
Upload SIF

Display the
list of errors

Validate SIF

Start
Display the
notification
End

User

Figure 1-1 SIF Validation Workflow Diagram

[2] Getting Started

2 Getting Started
Intended Readership
This guide is intended for WPS system end users as it covers the modules which they are
privileged to access.

How to use this Guide

The System's screens, icons, buttons plus some other functions are indicated in Bold,
Italic and Bold & Italic format.
Appendix section affixes any extra details which may be helpful in better comprehension
of the system functions. It includes for example:
Icons Use: a list of all icons and their functions
Filter Fields: a detailed description for each filter field and the purpose of using the
filter field to inquire about a certain set of batches/cheques
Entry Fields: a detailed description for each input field and the type of data that
should be filled in each field
Info: Any general note that undergoes no certain category is explained in a shaded box

titled Info.

Caution: This shaded box refers to a critical piece of information and awareness on a

particular action.

[4] Language Selection

3 Run the Validation Tool

Get ready to start!
Run the validation tool by clicking on the tool's icon named Client Validation Tool
(Figure 1-1).

Figure 3-1 Application Icon

Once the validation tool runs successfully, the WPS-SIF Validation Tool will be
displayed (Figure 3-2).

Figure 3-2

[6] Appendix

4 Language Selection
WPS-SIF Validation Tool offers two language selection (Arabic, English) for user
convenient, offering a full usage of the tool's functions in both languages.
To select the desired language please follow the below steps.
Caution: You must enable the keyboard layout for both Arabic and English language in the
Windows operating system.
To select the Arabic language, click on the Arabic language button at the right top
corner (marked in red).

Figure 4-1

The following Arabic interface will appear.

Figure 4-2

[6] Appendix

To switch to English Language, click on the English Language button, at the lift top
corner (marked in red).

Figure 4-3

The following English interface will appear

Figure 4-4

[6] Appendix

5 Validate the SIF File

In order to validate a certain SIF file, please take the steps mentioned in the following sections.

5.1 Upload the SIF file

Click the Browse button in the Validation Tool main page (marked in red).

Figure 5-1

[6] Appendix

Select the SIF from your local machine (marked in red), and click on the Open button.

Figure 5-2

Upon a successful upload of the SIF, the full path and name of the SIF will appear on the Upload
File Box.

At this point the SIF is uploaded successfully and ready to be validated.

Figure 5-3

[6] Appendix

5.2 Run the Validation for the SIF

Once the mentioned steps in the previous section are completed, the SIF is ready to be
validated.

Click on Validate button (marked in red).

Figure 5-4

The Validation Tool performs the validations for the uploaded SIF.

5.3 Validation Results

Once the user runs the validation test (mentioned in the previous section) for the SIF, two
expected scenarios are to follow.

10

[6] Appendix

5.4 Successful Validation

Note the Validation Results (marked in red), if the Error Count shows zero results, this indicates
that the SIF is valid.

For the Successful Validated the following message appears, to confirm the success of
the validation process.

Figure 5-5

Info: For this case, the SIF is ready to be submitted to the Banks.

11

[6] Appendix

5.5 Unsuccessful Validation

Once the user runs the validation test and the Error Counter at validation results section resulted
one or more error in the SIF file. This is an indicator there is a number of technical errors exists in
the selected SIF.

5.5.1

Error Counter

In the Validation Results section, the Error Counter (marked in red) shows the amount of errors
found in the SIF during validation.

Figure 5-6

12

[6] Appendix

5.5.2

Errors Grid

The Error Grid (marked in red) contains a detailed descriptions of the error(s). The fields of the
Error Grid are presented in the table below.
Info: A full list of potential Validation Errors can be found at the Appendix section.
Field Name
Error Source

Description
The Error source can be specified as one of the following:
File: it indicate that the error is in the file name or in the file
itself.
Header: it indicate that the error is in the SIF header.
Record: if error has occurred in the SIF record.

Record ID

SIF Record ID is displayed only in case the Error Source is a Record

within the SIF.

Error code

The code of the error, according to the codes specified in the

Appendix section.

Error description

The description of the error according to the codes specified in the

Appendix section.

Figure 5-7

13

[6] Appendix

5.5.3

Export Error Grid

Upon invocation of this function the Validation Tool creates a CSV (comma separated values) file,
where the contents of the grid are presented.

In order to export error grid into CSV file, click on Export (marked in red).

Figure 5-8

Save the CSV file to the desired location at your local machine.

Note: The export functionality is disabled for the SIFs that were validated successfully.

14

[6] Appendix

6 Appendix
6.1

List of Potential Validation Errors

The following table lists all the potential validation errors.

Error Code

Error Code

Error Description

The size of SIF is more than allowed maximum

file size

SIF size has to be less than the

maximum allowed SIF size

The file extension is not supported, only CSV

files are accepted

SIF extension should be CSV (case

insensitive)

The file cannot be parsed

WPS can parse the file

No data found in the file

File should not be empty

The 2nd and the 4th rows of the file should

contain the values

File should contain at least 4 rows (1st

row and 3rd row for titles, 2nd row for
header values, 4th row - at least one
record). The rows for titles can be left
empty.

The file with the same file name already exists

in the system

File name should be unique (unless the

previous file with the same name was
deleted from WPS or was invalid)

Invalid file name

File name contains 4 "_" separators

File name does not contain SIF prefix

The first segment of file name is string

"SIF" (case insensitive)

Employer Establishment ID in the header is not

7 or 8 digits

Employer Establishment ID in the header

is 7 or 8 digits

10

Invalid Employer Establishment ID in the file

name

The second segment of the file name

shall be numerical

11

Bank Short Name in the file name shall be 3 or

4 digits

The third segment of the file name is a

string of maximum 4 chars

12

Invalid Bank Short Name in the file name

The third segment of the file name

corresponds one of the bank short
names, registered in the WPS (case

15

[6] Appendix
insensitive)

13

The file is not meant for the bank (Bank Short

Name does not match WPS tenant name)

The system checks if the Payer bank

short name that is mentioned in the SIF
name is the same as the short name of
the tenant in the application.

14

Invalid Creation Date length in the file name

The fourth segment of the file name

contains 8 numbers.

15

Year in the file name is less than 2014

The first four symbols of the file creation

date segment (year) have a value is not
less than 2014

16

Invalid month value in the file name

The fifth and sixth symbols of the file

creation date segment (month) have a
value between 01 and 12

17

Invalid day value in the file name

The seventh and eighth symbols of the

file creation date (day) have a value
between 01 and 31

18

File Creation Date and Time in the file name

are after the current date and time

File Creation date is less or equal the

current date (cannot be in the future)

19

Invalid Creation Time length in the file name

The fifth segment of the file name

contains 3 or 4 digits

20

Invalid hours value in the file name

The first symbol for the file creation time

(if creation time field length is 3 digits) or
first two symbols of the file creation time
segment represent the number from 00
to 24

21

Invalid minutes value in the file name

The last two symbols of the file creation

time segment (minutes) are the digits
between 00 and 59

22

Invalid File Creation Date and Time in the file

name

The value File Creation Date and Time in

the File name should be valid date and
time

23

Number or columns in the SIF header does not

match SIF specification

Number of columns in SIF header should

correspond to the specification

24

Employer Establishment ID in the file name

does not match Employer Establishment ID in
the header

Employer EID in the SIF header should

be the same as Employer EID in the File
name

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[6] Appendix
25

Payer Bank Short Name in the header does not

match the Bank Short Name in the file name

Bank Short Name in the SIF header

should be the same as Bank Short Name
in the File name (case insensitive)

26

File Creation Date in the header does not

match File Creation Date in the file name

File Creation Date in the SIF header

should be the same as File Creation
Date in the File name

27

File Creation Time in the header does not

match File Creation Time in the file name

File Creation Time in the SIF header

should be the same as File Creation
Time in the File name

29

Payer Qatari ID and Payer Establishment ID

are both specified

Both Payer Establishment ID and Payer

QID are specified

30

Neither Payer Qatari ID nor Payer

Establishment ID are specified

Neither Payer Establishment ID nor

Payer QID are specified

31

The length of Payer Establishment ID is not 7

or 8 digits

Payer Establishment ID value length is 7

or 8

32

Payer Establishment ID is not numeric

Payer Establishment ID value contains

only digits (numbers)

33

The length of Payer Qatari ID is not 11 digits

Payer Qatari ID value length is 11

34

Payer Qatari ID is no numeric

Payer Qatari ID value contains only digits

(numbers)

35

Payer IBAN is not specified

SIF header Payer IBAN is specified

36

Payer IBAN length is not 29 symbols

Payer IBAN value length is 29

37

Invalid Payer IBAN

Payer IBAN value contains only alphanumeric symbols

38

Payer Account number is not a valid IBAN

Payer IBAN 2 fist symbols are "QA"

38

Payer Account number is not a valid IBAN

Payer IBAN third and fourth symbols check digits. Validate according MOD97

109

Payer IBAN does not match Payer's Bank

Payer IBAN fifth to eight symbols - check

if it is the same as Bank Short Name in
SIF header

39

Salary Year and Month is not specified

Salary Year and Month value is specified

40

Salary Year and Month length is not equal to 6

digits

Salary Year and Month value length is 6

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[6] Appendix
41

Invalid Salary Year and Month

Salary Year and Month value is numeric

42

Salary Year should not be less than 2014

The first four symbols of the Salary Year

and Month value is not less than 2014

41

Invalid Salary Year and Month

The fifth and sixth symbols of the File

Creation Date segment have a value
between 01 and 12

43

The difference between Salary year and month,

comparing to the current date, is more than
allowed Salary Year Month Elapsing Period
(System Parameter)

Salary year and month, comparing to the

current date, should not be more than the
configurable parameter

44

Total Salaries value is not specified

Total salaries value is specified

45

Total Salaries value is negative

Total Salaries value should not be

negative

46

Total Salaries value has more than 2 decimal

places

Total Salaries value should not have

more than 2 decimal places

47

Total Salaries value is not numeric

Total Salaries value a number

48

Total Salaries in the SIF header is not equal to

the sum of Net Salaries in the SIF records

Total salaries amount is equal to the sum

of Net salary amount for all records

49

Number of Records value is not specified

Number of Records value is specified

50

Number of Records value is not numeric

Number of Records value is numeric

51

Number of Records value in the header does

not match the actual number of records in the
SIF

Number of records is equal to the

number of SIF records in the file

52

There is no Regulated entity registered for the

same Employer EID, Payer EID and Payer
IBAN

The SIF is provided for the regulated

entity that is already registered in the
system

53

There is no Regulated entity registered for the

same Employer EID, Payer QID and Payer
IBAN

The SIF is provided for the regulated

entity that is already registered in the
system

54

Number of columns for the SIF records does

not match SIF specification

Number of columns for the SIF records

should match the specification

55

Record Sequence is duplicate in the SIF

All Record IDs (sequence numbers) are

unique in the file

56

Record Sequence is not specified

Record Sequence is specified

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[6] Appendix
57

Record Sequence is not numeric

Record Sequence is numeric

58

Record Sequence is more than 6 digits

Record Sequence length shall not be

more than 6 digits

59

Neither Employee Qatari ID nor Employee Visa

ID are specified

Employee QID and Employee Visa ID

are not specified

60

Employee Qatari ID and Employee Visa ID are

both specified

Employee QID and Employee Visa ID

are both specified

61

Employee Qatari ID is not unique, SIF should

contain one record per one employee

There is more than one SIF record for

the same employee (based on employee
QID)

62

Employee Visa ID is not unique, SIF should

contain one record per one employee

There is more than one SIF record for

the same employee (based on employee
Visa Number)

63

Employee Qatari ID length is not 11 digits

Employee QID value length is exactly 11

digits

64

Employee Qatari ID is not numeric

Employee Qatari ID contains only digits

(numbers)

65

Employee Visa ID length is not 12 digits

Employee Visa Number value length is

12

66

Employee Visa ID contains invalid characters

Employee Visa Number can contain only

numbers and letters

67

Employee Name is not specified

Employee Name is specified

68

Employee Name value length is more than 70

symbols

Employee name value length in not more

than 70 symbols

69

Employee Name contains invalid characters

Employee Name shall not contain invalid

characters

70

Employee Bank Short Name is not specified

Employee Bank Short Name is specified

71

Employee Bank Short Name length is not 3 or 4

symbols

Employee Bank Short Name value length

is not more than 4

72

Invalid Employee Bank Short Name

Employee Bank Short Name shall consist

of characters only

73

Employee Bank Short Name does not

correspond to any of the banks registered in
WPS

Employee Bank Short Name value is

corresponds to one of the bank short
names, registered in WPS (case

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[6] Appendix
insensitive)

74

Employee Account number is not specified

Employee Account Number is specified

75

Employee Account number length is not 29

digits

Employee Account Number value length

is 29

76

Employee Account number is not a valid IBAN

Employee Account Number value

contains only alpha-numeric symbols

76

Employee Account number is not a valid IBAN

Employee Account Number 2 fist

symbols are "QA"

76

Employee Account number is not a valid IBAN

Employee Account Number third and

fourth symbols - check digits. Validate
according MOD97

77

Employee Account number (IBAN) does not

match Employee Bank

Employee Account Number fifth to eight

symbols - check if it is the same as
Employee Bank Short Name

78

Salary Frequency length is not 1 character

Salary Frequency value length is 1

symbol

79

Invalid Salary Frequency

Salary Frequency value is either M or B

80

Number of Working days is not specified

Number of Working days is specified

81

The length of Number of Working days value is

more than 3 digits

Number of Working days value length is

not more than 3 symbols

82

Number of Working days should not be

negative

Number of Working days is the positive

83

Number of Working days value is not a numeric

Number of working days value is numeric

84

Net Salary is not specified

Net Salary is specified

85

Net Salary value is not a numeric

Net salary value is decimal

86

Net Salary value has more than 2 decimal

places

Net salary value is not more than 2

decimal places

87

Net Salary should not be negative

Net salary value is not less than 0 QAR

88

Basic Salary is not specified

Basic Salary is specified

89

Basic Salary value is not a numeric

Basic salary value is decimal

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[6] Appendix
90

Basic Salary value has more than 2 decimal

places

Basic salary value is not more than 2

decimal places

91

Basic Salary should be more than 0 (zero)

Basic salary value is more than 0 QAR

92

Extra Hours value is not specified

Extra hours is specified

93

Extra Hours value is not a numeric

Extra hours value is decimal

94

Extra Hours value is negative

Extra Hours value should not be negative

95

Extra Hours value exceeds 999

Extra Hours value should not exceed 999

96

Extra Income value is not specified

Extra Income value is specified

97

Extra Income value is not numeric

Extra income value is decimal

98

Extra Income value has more than 2 decimal

places

Extra income value is not more than 2

decimal places

99

Extra Income value is negative

Extra income value is not less than 0

QAR

100

Deductions value is not specified

Deductions value is specified

101

Deductions value is not a numeric

Deductions value is decimal

102

Deductions value has more than 2 decimal

places

Deductions value is not more than 2

decimal places

103

Deductions value is negative

Deductions value is not less than 0 QAR

104

Payment Type value length is more than 50

symbols

Payment type value length is not more

than 50

105

Notes value length is more that 300 symbols

Notes value length is not more than 300

106

SIF presented by the bank has the status

specified for the Record

SIF presented by the bank shall not have

status specified for the Record

107

SIF presented by the bank shall not have

rejection reasons specified for the Record

SIF presented by the bank shall not have

rejection reasons specified for the
Record

108

Employer Establishment ID in the file name is

not 8 digits

Employer EID in the File name should be

8 digits

110

No records found inside SIF file

SIF should not be empty

111

Extra Hours value has more than 2 decimal

places

Extra hours should not have more than 2

decimal places

21

[6] Appendix
112

Notes / Comments field should be double

quoted, as it contains special characters

If the field contains special characters, it

should be double quoted

28

SIF status cannot be specified in the SIF

Integration Request Message

SIF status shall not be specified in the

SIF, the status should be specified in SIF
Integration Reply

113

Employee Account number length is more than

29 symbols

Employee Account Number value length

is below 29 symbols

22