Excluded from reduced hours
Dear Sir,
An article in Gulf Times (“Working hours during Ramadan in Qatar”, June 25) said: “During Ramadan the majority of Qatar employees will work two hours less each day as required by Qatar laws and regulations. The normal working day of eight hours, or 48 hours a week, will be reduced to six hours, or 36 hours a week, on the basis of a six-day week. Employers and employees which operate and work, respectively, a five-day week will need to reduce their working hours accordingly.
“The provisions of Law No (14) of 2004, Qatar Labour Law, govern the employment of the majority of Qatari employees, specifically provides for reduced working hours for all employees whether or not they are Muslim and/or fasting during Ramadan.
“Daily working hours are reduced from eight hours to six hours. Two hours of overtime may be worked in addition to these six hours with the result that the maximum working hours per day for individuals working overtime will be eight hours rather than 10. The usual overtime rates should apply during Ramadan.”
So it is not fair at all that at the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), non-Muslims still have to work their normal shift with no reduction in hours during Ramadan. I understand that many non-Muslims join in Ramadan fasting. Why are they then excluded from shorter work hours?
VMD, (Full name and e-mail address supplied)
Chaos at Barwa traffic signals
Dear Sir,
Chaos prevails at the traffic signals near Barwa Village, with many drivers showing no respect for rules and safe practices.
Vehicles coming from the F-Ring Road have to take the left track to go to Wakrah and the right track to Barwa Village. There is usually a long line of vehicles on the track to Wakrah and fewer vehicles on the right side leading to Barwa Village.
At the signals, many drivers going to Wakrah, instead of waiting on the left track, jump to the right one towards Barwa Village as the queue is shorter there. Once the green light is on, these vehicles suddenly force their way back into the Wakrah track on the left. Because of the continuous flow of traffic towards Wakrah after the green light is on, the errant drivers’ attempts to squeeze into the left track pose accident risks and cause frayed tempers.
I cross the signal every day at 5.45pm to go to Barwa Village. The other day, I was nearly hit by a pickup while it changed lines without any notice.
Also, there is no fencing on the right side of the road from the signals up to the first roundabout of Barwa Village. Because of this, many vehicles turn off the road, using the open space as a shortcut to get into the old Wakrah road.
The open space is 1-2ft lower than the road, so vehicles have to slow down to enter it. The abrupt slowing-down by vehicles at this point of the road increases chances of crashes. This stretch of the road must have fencing at the earliest.
Dr Hashim Keyi, Atlas Medical Center, Barwa Village
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