The Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning (MMUP) has announced the allocation of 900 plots, each measuring 1,000sqm, for workers’ housing, local daily Arrayah has reported.

The first stage includes 400 plots in northern localities such as Umm Salal, Al Khor and Umm Alzbar. Another 100 plots will be provided in Al Wakrah, the report says. Each plot will accommodate 150 workers.

According to the report, municipality sources said as many as 1,000 campaigns had been carried out to evacuate workers from Doha, Rayyan and Umm Salal until December last year. On delays in removal of bachelor workers from areas where families also lived, members of the Municipal Council cited overlapping operations of the authorities concerned as one of the causes.

Nationals have said it was important to first find suitable location for labour accommodation before transferring them to other places. The existence of bachelor workers in family neighbourhoods has led to various problems and the difference in habits and traditions has caused much embarrassment to Qatari and other Muslim families, the report said. The delay in shifting bachelors has been attributed to procedural and legal obstacles, according to the report.

Another commentator said the number of workers in cities was not too large. However, there were many bachelor workers living in family neighbourhoods due to the lack of a law that prevented the leasing of such houses to bachelors. Besides, many landlords give their houses to companies, and not individuals, on rent for several years, the report said.

It was also suggested that far-off areas be allocated for labour accommodation and that there should be a time limit and an effective mechanism to deal with such issues, the report said.

According to some, the establishment of labour accommodation with integrated utilities in Sanaya was the best solution. There should be proper co-ordination in this regard between the different authorities as well as a strategy to support the private sector in providing suitable housing for workers, the report added.