No more Friday's off for workers, CMC says

No more Friday's off for workers, CMC says

dohasoccerguy
By dohasoccerguy

The Central Municipal Council (CMC) wants companies not to let all their workers take a weekly day off on Fridays as the civic body says it leads to crowding in some areas of Doha.

Companies should instead allow a weekly day off only to half their workers on Fridays and let the others have their sabbatical on some other day of the week.

The civic body has presented the proposal to the government—the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning. 

The debate on the workers’ issue was opened in the House by member Mubarak Fraish at its regular session last Tuesday.

Fraish said it was a matter of grave concern that such huge crowds of low-income workers gather in places like Grand Hamad Road on Fridays and threaten law and order and hygiene.

They litter the place putting pressure on public cleaning services, and can spread communicable diseases. Besides, policing them becomes necessary.

The CMC has urged the authorities that specific places be earmarked for their gathering on the weekends and these places should be closer to exchange houses and commercial areas.

“Most of the workers throng Grand Hamad Street because it is close to exchange companies and commercial areas,” said the CMC. 

It has also asked authorities to allot areas, as announced earlier, in Doha, Al Khor, Al Shamal, Umm Salal and Al Wakra for workers’ gatherings on the weekends.

The CMC has also said that one day of the week should be reserved for workers in public parks and on that day families should not be let in.

There is an old graveyard area near Grand Hamad Street, said the CMC. 

That should be developed and reserved exclusively for the low-income workers for their weekend gatherings. 

There are more than 80,000 registered companies in the country. (The Peninsula) - Image

By FahadH• 27 Dec 2013 14:43
FahadH

Wow..Why not ban EATING food for the workers. .ban using the public bathrooms.ban them from using public parks..ban them from offering praying in your mosques..ban them from smiling or crying when you don't give them three or four months due salaries. .Ban them from sleeping. .In fact just ban them from living in your country. .There that will make u happy now rite...

By Mustafa Kassab• 15 Dec 2013 13:07
Mustafa Kassab

This much of carelessness of human rights+Too much racism...what else?

Subhana Allah...

By JJoy• 15 Dec 2013 12:26
JJoy

After reading this article, it feels like i should leave this country with my family as soon as possible (Australia or Canada will be a good option), be it a worker or a manager, humans should be tread as such.

By coxtown• 15 Dec 2013 11:25
Rating: 3/5
coxtown

Yes, there is no place left for construction of any more sky scrappers in and around corniche area, hence they want to keep the labors away from posh localities. How sad !! where are u human rights guys, pls read this

By sTrangR• 15 Dec 2013 10:49
sTrangR

WHO IS THIS ####### Mubarak Fraish ?!!

By sTrangR• 15 Dec 2013 10:48
sTrangR

SHAME SHAME SHAME ..................................................

I WANT TO LEAVE THIS 8 SOON

By Arien• 15 Dec 2013 09:44
Arien

Keep stepping backward.. low income is what is dividing them and making the troublesome.. why dont you increase their pay ?? Instead , restrict them from coming out to public .. soon they will be locked in the cages after the work too... !!!

If they are not to be seen here , dont bring them !!! simple.

By hareeshfm• 14 Dec 2013 16:39
hareeshfm

If they are thinking this is nuisance for one day(Firday), If they are splitting this off for two different days then it will be nuisance for two days..what u people say...Please let these people enjoy atleast for one day with their friends.....These people are working from 6 to 6 and they stuck up in traffic for almost 3-4 hours daily...Why dont u people suggest to clear the roads for this poor workers to reach their room early after works....

By YCHikal• 14 Dec 2013 11:33
YCHikal

Excerpt from The Farewell Sermon of Prophet Muhammed PBUH:

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action......Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.

Remember, one day you will appear before ALLAH and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

By meenzer59• 14 Dec 2013 10:02
Rating: 5/5
meenzer59

Dear Mr. Mubarak Fraish - this comment is from a "high Income" Expert.

Just want to remind you that these "low income" people build and develop this country....and you treat them like people you better don't want to see. Rather than taking the Friday away you should consider to give them Friday and Saturday. Sure you have a two-day week....of course, you are a better human.

By awrabfd11• 14 Dec 2013 08:07
Rating: 5/5
awrabfd11

Mr Fraish and CMC proposal is understandable, fair and honest, and still these Manpower can enjoy their Off Day, He said parts of them will have an off day on Friday and the rest during other days than Friday. Yep surely they congest traffic, markets etc. they are running at the streets if you are not careful enough, you may bump them. As I read carefully the article it was not even written there that they will be treated unjustly. About communicable diseases that they may spread, take note that these fellow expats leave in some of the poorest condition and unhealthy condition from thereby lot of them have coughing problem etc.well you might as well research this in Hamad Hospital. My dearest commentators once again reevaluate your judgement and reread it again. Thanks

By awrabfd11• 14 Dec 2013 08:07
Rating: 5/5
awrabfd11

Mr Fraish and CMC proposal is understandable, fair and honest, and still these Manpower can enjoy their Off Day, He said parts of them will have an off day on Friday and the rest during other days than Friday. Yep surely they congest traffic, markets etc. they are running at the streets if you are not careful enough, you may bump them. As I read carefully the article it was not even written there that they will be treated unjustly. About communicable diseases that they may spread, take note that these fellow expats leave in some of the poorest condition and unhealthy condition from thereby lot of them have coughing problem etc.well you might as well research this in Hamad Hospital. My dearest commentators once again reevaluate your judgement and reread it again. Thanks

By awrabfd11• 14 Dec 2013 08:07
Rating: 5/5
awrabfd11

Mr Fraish and CMC proposal is understandable, fair and honest, and still these Manpower can enjoy their Off Day, He said parts of them will have an off day on Friday and the rest during other days than Friday. Yep surely they congest traffic, markets etc. they are running at the streets if you are not careful enough, you may bump them. As I read carefully the article it was not even written there that they will be treated unjustly. About communicable diseases that they may spread, take note that these fellow expats leave in some of the poorest condition and unhealthy condition from thereby lot of them have coughing problem etc.well you might as well research this in Hamad Hospital. My dearest commentators once again reevaluate your judgement and reread it again. Thanks

By chase32• 13 Dec 2013 13:02
Rating: 3/5
chase32

absolutely stupid. . . Last Eid when we were covering a week long event in Souq Waqif, a large number of securities are standing on the streets of the souq and every time there will be indians or Sri Lankans or nepalis walking on the streets of Souq Waqif, the securities will approach them and point them to the nearest exit. . .

By FathimaH• 12 Dec 2013 23:57
FathimaH

A truly despicable and hateful article only worth circulating in order to open the eyes of many around to the blatant discrimination and mistreatment many lower income workers are suffering on a daily basis. And I find it quite disturbing that despite the ever increasing number of malls and parks existing around the country, a renovated grave yard is being suggested as an ideal meeting ground for these poor men!

By [email protected]• 12 Dec 2013 23:44
mkkchithari@gmail.com

Labourers are human..not robot

By [email protected]• 12 Dec 2013 23:44
mkkchithari@gmail.com

Labourers are human..not robot

By [email protected]• 12 Dec 2013 23:44
mkkchithari@gmail.com

Labourers are human..not robot

By mosharref• 12 Dec 2013 22:07
Rating: 5/5
mosharref

Stop friday off !!! Its not solution. Better transfer bus stop from there and close the al fardan exchange. no one will be go there. and see it will be 100% effective.

By Kazmuth• 12 Dec 2013 18:43
Kazmuth

Ah okay....Once road is clear, let the bastard idiot 4 x 4 driver do his own death defying driving skill...

By rujimuba• 12 Dec 2013 18:41
Rating: 4/5
rujimuba

Insane at it's best.It seems they need the laborers only to work like slaves to achieve their goals. They don't want laborers to enjoy their life at least once in a week. Doha only has few gathering points, even most of them are confined to family only on Fridays which is another drama.So these low income workers sought to gather in Grand Hamad or similar locations to meet their friends and share there life. In family restricted areas when an Asian Bachelor enters the security stops you and says today it's only for families but when a Arabic Bachelor enters they never stop them. Further, why they are putting all the blame on low income workers and say they are littering the places and spreading diseases? Is it written on each's body that low income bodies spread diseases and high income bodies don't? if you are having health issues you should bring up professional solutions to protect the health of working community in Qatar instead of bringing up silly solutions like this. Then what would happen when the working community increases along with the introduction of new projects?, then how will CMC respond?

By acchabaccha• 12 Dec 2013 18:17
Rating: 5/5
acchabaccha

Friday is the only day when these workers can get together from all over the city and share some moments in a free, non-work environment, getting to meet their friends and relatives, and share news from their home countries. They crowd around Grand Hamad Street as it is close to the bus station and it saves them travelling costs. To them every Riyal is important. Also, due to various beliefs, workers who are largely from Asian countries, would refrain from going to a park which was earlier a graveyard. Let these workers who toil the whole week through, have a day of mental relaxation in their own atmosphere.

By nylha• 12 Dec 2013 17:54
nylha

The no Friday day off to all is ok specially if concerning the crowded and traffic. But discriminating and blaming some low profile worker is not a good.

By fonzenigma• 12 Dec 2013 17:37
fonzenigma

Mubarak Fraish he is just concerned about his country nothing else ,what he say is kind off right but the question is they are not educated like us ,it will be great if we can teach them how to live in these kind of surroundings we are also equally responsible ,instead avoiding we should face these kind off chalenges.

By emgee• 12 Dec 2013 17:13
Rating: 5/5
emgee

JaquesMex- you clealy have not seen the labour camps here. You should visit the Salwa Industrial area sometime and venture well beyond the first streets where you take your car for service. You and many others may well be shocked by the appaling conditions of the accommodation, roads- everything in fact!

By JaquesMex• 12 Dec 2013 16:38
Rating: 3/5
JaquesMex

They should develop the gatherings areas inside of their labor camps, so they can't go out to threat the law and order and hygiene, A long time ago some people had a proyect like that, arround Europe, with nice costumes and everything, maybe they can copy some of their techniques... no, wait, forget it, I think that proyect didn't end up very well

By doha estate• 12 Dec 2013 15:18
doha estate

Fraish said it was a matter of grave concern that such huge crowds of low-income workers gather in places like Grand Hamad Road on Fridays and threaten law and order and hygiene.

They litter the place putting pressure on public cleaning services, and can spread communicable diseases. Besides, policing them becomes necessary.

So why don't deport them?

By fubar• 12 Dec 2013 15:16
fubar

So now we know who is allegedly responsible for all the litter in Qatar. And the spreading of communicable diseases.

Anything else we can accuse them of? Global warming? Bad Ooredoo reception?

By gerarra• 12 Dec 2013 15:14
gerarra

this is absurd! this is discrimination at its best!

By jmu03182• 12 Dec 2013 14:52
jmu03182

"threaten law and order and hygiene". How about treating these people like human beings.

By bilalr• 12 Dec 2013 14:34
bilalr

Well, having a "no-families allowed day" in the public parks sounds like a good idea. Not sure about the rest...

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