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The Doha municipality records a high rate of violations by street vendors, amounting to 81 reports per month.
“Street vendors are a major cause for concern particularly in the Industrial Area. While the goods they display on the streets are mostly of unknown origin, none of the street vendors was authorised or licensed to sell food items under the law,” Ali Nasser al-Hajiri, director, public control department at the Doha municipality, told the Central Municipal Council (CMC).
Al-Hajiri suggested that the municipality should conduct regular inspections in co-operation with the Ministry of Interior to eliminate such practices, particularly in the Industrial Area.
He pointed out that most of the food items displayed by street vendors are often bought from the Central Market and the vendors then take them around Doha. “Often, such goods are confiscated. While some of these items go to charities, the ones unfit for consumption are discarded,” he said.
On the Omani Market in Abu Hamour, he said the stalls there are given on lease, based on annual contracts; 70% of these are leased by Qataris. “The number of stalls there is limited and any vendor found violating the norms will be referred to the court.”
Meanwhile, the director of public control department at the Al Rayyan municipality, told the CMC that no street vendors were given licences to sell food items in the area.
The CMC had earlier addressed the issue of street vendors, who displayed their goods - vegetable and fruits - in the open along highways and roundabouts. During the summer, this posed a serious health hazard as the items would rot quickly.
“Besides, this harmed the image of the country,” said CMC vice chairman Jassim al-Malki.
Law No. 9 (1969), which regulates the operations of street vendors, indicates that nobody can practise such a profession unless he gets a licence from the municipality concerned. The licence will be valid for a year and can be renewed.
Those violating the law are punishable with a minimum fine of QR50, which can go up to QR300, or a prison term ranging from a week to two months, or both.
It is felt by the CMC that the petty penalties are among the factors that impede the efforts in combating the problem.