MoI working on CMC recommendations on maids

 Members attend the bi-weekly session. Right: Al-Hinzab: CMC has a role in naming streets and parks

By Ayman Adly/Staff Reporter

Qatar will be recruiting maids from countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Nepal, Cambodia and Djibouti to bring down the cost of employing domestic help.

This was conveyed by the Ministry of Interior (MoI) to the Central Municipal Council (CMC) in response to the  Council’s recommendations.

The CMC’s bi-weekly session yesterday discussed  the responses of different public entities on a number of recommendations.

“Sourcing workers from new countries would help stabilise the cost of recruiting maids and provide more alternatives. Other recommendations have been already implemented by MoI such as spreading awareness among locals to decrease the dependency on domestic workers.  The Search and Follow up Department will open offices at Wakrah, Shahaniyah and Al Zubara  to tackle the issue of absconding domestic workers,” the statement said.

Further to the council’s recommendation regarding the phenomenon of absconding maids, the MoI said that there is already a legislation in place to penalise absconding workers and those who assist them. Besides, there is an ongoing study to increase the stipulated penalties for violators .

In another development, CMC members demanded that street names around the country should be clear and easy for expatriates to pronounce.

Member Dr Mohamed al-Mislimani suggested that the concerned committee for naming the streets should avoid difficult and hard to pronounce words, especially for those who do not know Arabic, who constitute a considerable portion of Qatar’s population. Besides, internal streets should have designated numbers besides names.

“Also, names of streets should not be repeated allover again in different areas, as this is very confusing,” pointed out Dr al-Mislamani.

 CMC vice chairman Jassim al-Malki agreed that street numbers are of great importance and special focus should be given to them because these enable inhabitants to easily access services such as ambulances and other general services.

 CMC chairman Saud al-Hinzab emphasised that the internal regulations of the council gave it the mandate to take part in naming streets, public squares, suburbs, public parks and gardens. “CMC members have an active role in naming streets and they should assume this responsibility,” he said.

On the council’s recommendation that the use of speed humps be regulated , the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning (MMUP) replied that the  departments concerned are currently conducting a survey of all the humps to reconstruct them according to the approved standards and caution the motorists with road signs.

Similarly, the Traffic Department said  it has formed a committee to implement CMC recommendations and  conducted a comprehensive survey of the speed humps in the country. “In 2012, some 32 humps were removed and 249 were constructed. Last year, 343 were built and 48 removed. This year 25 have been  removed and 161  constructed so far,” the department said

Regarding previous CMC recommendations on the precautions that should be taken to combat the spread of coronavirus, the Supreme Council of Health said that all such recommendations have been implemented.

Separately, the CMC yesterday issued a number of recommendations  to various  entities pertaining to the safety of swimming pools at homes, housing complexes and public places.

Swimming pools should follow a set of standard specifications in coordination with the Civil Defence and be built only by construction companies approved and licensed for the purpose, it said.

The council also urged the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) to study the possibility of allocating some health centers exclusively for Qataris , especially in  areas where there is a concentration of local inhabitants. “Also, locals should be given priority for treatment and medical appointment at health centers.”

Regarding pre-marriage checkups, males and females should be given separate appointments  to avoid embarrassment, the council said.

Other  recommendations include making vitamin D drops available at hospitals and health centres.  The PHCC was also asked to ensure that its services are delivered timely and accurately.