Arabic learning gets new thrust

DOHA: The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has asked all business entities to use Arabic as the main language in invoices, service lists, product labels and warnings about health risks of any product.

Hotels, shopping malls, car showrooms, maintenance centres and other stores have also been asked to assign at least one Arabic-speaking employee at their reception desks, if they require that service.

An Arabic speaker is required to process consumer complaints and inquiries and provide after-sales services at customer service centres in malls and call centres, according to a circular (No. 5) issued by the Ministry.

All business entities have been given time until March 31 to complete the Arabisation of bills, lists of services, product labels and customer/call centre services.

The ministry said yesterday that it has launched the initiative “after noticing an increase in the use of foreign languages when providing information on products and services, issuing invoices and providing customers support.”

This has led to a lack of transparency and difficulty in accessing information on various goods and services provided to the customers, it added. The move comes in line with the law No (8) of 2008 on consumer protection.

Article (7), (8) and (11) of the law compel suppliers to use Arabic when labelling and packaging products, issuing invoices to consumers and providing description of goods and their prices and properties, with the possibility of offering them in another language .

For services such as beauty salons, hotels, maintenance centres, travel and tourism agencies, the providers are obliged to assign at least one Arabic-speaking employee at reception desks and use Arabic language when providing service information on labels and advertisements, with the possibility of offering such information in a second language.

They must assign at least one Arabic-speaking employee to explain properties of their service to customers.

They must also use Arabic language when giving service information to the customers, including its advantages, disadvantages and price, with the possibility of using an additional language.

They must issue invoices in Arabic to document transactions or agreements with consumers regarding products or services and use Arabic language in guarantee statements, with the possibility of using an additional language.

They must hire an Arabic speaker to process consumer complaints and inquiries and provide after-sales services.

The above requirements also apply to suppliers and providers of products such as cars, electronics, clothes, toys and consumer goods. Additionally, they must use Arabic language (with the possibility of using another language) when displaying data pertaining to the use and installation of products or statements concerning the need to hire technicians in case the products is made of several parts, said the ministry.

The Ministry has called on all traders, service providers and owners of major outlets that don’t offer statements and invoices in Arabic to comply with the circular and to Arabise data, billing and other services provided to consumers.

The ministry said that after the given deadline, it will conduct inspection campaigns to ensure the businesses comply with the instructions and necessary legal action will be taken in case of violations.

http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/11/10/2016/Arabic-must-in-invoices-and-purchase-bills