Doha

A new rule that prohibits expatriates from converting driving licences issued in other GCC countries into Qatari licences has left a section of employers as well as new recruits worried.

These recruits, who arrived in Qatar recently or were expected to come soon, had driving licences from other GCC states and were hoping to get them converted in Qatar. However, they will not be able to do so in view of the Traffic Department's recent directive.

Under the new rule, only citizens of other GCC states will be allowed to get their driving licences converted to Qatari ones, according to reports.

Some jobseekers who had worked in the other Gulf states earlier were hoping to get their licences converted on landing jobs in Qatar.

Expressing concern over the new rule, some employers said the inability of new recruits to get their licences converted here would likely affect the operations of a number of firms.

The officials had hoped the new employees would be able to get their Qatari driving licences quickly and start their duties without any delay. However, now these workers have to go through the entire training and testing process, which may take several months.

A senior official of a food supplier said they recruited more than 25 drivers who had earlier worked in a neighbouring GCC state, taking into consideration their experience and familiarity with the region's culture and nature of business activities.

The new rule has come as a setback to companies like theirs, he said, explaining that they now have to keep the new recruits "practically idle" until they clear the driving test.

It is learnt that more than 10 of the newly selected drivers have landed in Qatar over the past few days. The official doubted if the other new recruits would consider joining the company with the new rule coming into effect.

Some of the local entrepreneurs felt it would be better if expatriates holding GCC licences were issued temporary licences until they secured Qatari driving licences. Such a provision would help ensure that the operations of local companies were not hit, they said.

Another organisation is reportedly facing a similar situation as it has recruited some expatriate drivers who have worked in other GCC states for its logistics and parcel division.

Owing to the urgency of their work, major construction and infrastructure companies usually give preference to drivers holding GCC licences. Such firms often advertise for drivers with GCC experience due to the advantages of hiring workers familiar with the region and also because they can start working soon after landing here.

However, they may now have to alter their plans in view of the recent directive, said the operations manager of a firm implementing a number of infrastructure projects in and around Doha.

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