Right time for rule changes
Dear Sir,
Qatar announced in May last year that it would make changes to its labour laws. Gulf Times and other newspapers carried reports about the proposal then. This had really raised the expectations of many expatriate employees working in the state. But since then, there have been no reports about any concrete progress in this regard.
It is more than eight months since the announcement was made and one would have thought that some decisions have been made by now.
This seems to be the right time to act on the plan. With the oil price drastically down, the infrastructure development programmes are entering a crucial phase. In the changing scenario, the country can perhaps meet its demands for workforce with its current population without the influx of new people if constructive changes to the sponsorship rules are unveiled now.
MH, (Full name and address supplied)
Families vs friends
Dear Sir,
This is in reference to the article, “Dispense with fears and make more friends” (Gulf Times, January 25). Almost all people have friends, some more than others. As far as I am concerned, it is not important how many friends we have, but how long we have them. We should be wary of “fair-weather friends” who will not be with us through thick and thin.
We expect our friends to be good and selfless, tolerant and caring. But first, we should be so. Only then, we can expect the same from our friends. If we and our friends are on the same wavelength, then the friendship has a smooth sailing.
My brother-in-law has many friends, most of whom he had befriended before his marriage. Since he spends a great deal of time with them, he finds it difficult to spend enough time with his family. Hence, the onus of taking care of the family is actually on my sister-in-law.
Therefore, if you have many friends, strike a balance between your family and friends. Then, you can keep both of them in good humour. The family and friends both are important. But, the former is more important than the latter.
C Robinson, [email protected]
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