Unbearable Cost of Living

The unbearable cost of living

Doha, May 26 /QNA/ - The english language daily ,''the
peninsula'' has editorially commented on the spiring and unbearable
cost of living and said,'' Despite the strict enforcement of the new
rent law, many landlords, countless number of middlemen and their
cronies continue to fleece tenants by flouting the laws and fooling
the concerned sleuths0
This is the worst thing that could happen in a country whose
inflation rate is skyrocketing mainly due to the clandestine
activities of a handful of unscrupulous Shylocks in the real estate
business and visa trade, which is the root cause of many labour
problems, said the paper0
The government enacted the new rent law, which was a relief to
tens of thousands of residents and low income citizens, with the
objective of putting a two year-cap on soaring rents that had forced
many foreign workers to send their families home0 High inflation and
the cost of living, besides unbearable rents, are also keeping
qualified workforce from taking up jobs here, said the peninsula in
an editorial comment published here on monday0
We have a few days ago reported on the shady activities of
some landlords and their ruthless middlemen who have been raising the
rentals for new tenants to compensate their losses by strangulating
their new preys as shortage of flats and villas continues to rise0
So, there are takers even if the rents are QR 8,000 to QR8,500 for a
tiny two-bed room apartment0 This is in addition to the commission
payable to agents and sub agents, it noted0
It is sad to see bachelor workers sleeping on terraces even
during the hot and humid summer and chilly winter unable to solve the
housing problems0 Therefore, we need more Barwa-styled low-cost
residential complexes to overcome this perennial crisis0 The sudden
increase of school fees and transport charges at many resident
schools also have aggravated the miseries of middle income and
low-paid foreign workers0
Since there is no effective official mechanism to oversee the
?business activities? in the private education sector, particularly
in fixing tuition fees, special fees and transport charges, the
middle income families find life in their second home too tough0 It
is high time that concerned authorities paid more attention to the
genuine issues of parents who are struggling to make ends meet0
There is no logic behind many private schools increasing fees
periodically because of the simple fact that they were given acres of
land free of cost by the government to construct buildings besides
making electricity and water charges free0 There must be an end to
this sordid drama that is worse than daylight robbery, the peninsula
concluded0/qna/