IOE secretary general Brent Wilton, accompanied by Barwa al-Baraha project manager Abdulla al-Hajj, project consultant Ali al-Darbasti and other  Barwa officials, visiting Workers City yesterday.

 

By Ramesh Mathew

 

International Organisation of Employers (IOE) secretary general  Brent Wilton has hailed the initiatives being made by Qatar to improve the living and working conditions of its huge expatriate workforce.

He praised Qatar’s efforts after a visit to Workers’ City which is developed by Barwa Real Estate Company as part of its Barwa al-Baraha project.

The IOE claims to be the  largest network of the private sector in the world, with a membership of 150 business and employer federations in more than 140 countries.  In social and labour policy debate taking place in the International Labour Organisation, across the UN and multilateral system, and in the G20 and other emerging processes, the Geneva-based IOE is the recognised voice of business.                                       

The first phase of Workers City, lying on the south western side of Doha, is spread over an area of around 1.8mn sq m. The city’s first phase, which is expected to house more than 24,000 people, will be ready for commissioning in August, Barwa officials said yesterday.

The IOE secretary general said that Workers City would be Qatar’s apt answer to those spreading adverse reports about the living conditions of  labourers in the country.

Wilton expressed the hope that Qatar would be able to build more accommodations of the same magnitude as Workers City for its growing labour force in coming years.

He expressed satisfaction with the quality of the buildings in the Phase 1 of Workers City.

Out of the total cost of QR2bn earmarked for the construction of the entire project, QR700mn
will be set apart for the Phase 1.

Barwa al-Baraha project manager Abdulla al-Hajj and project consultant Ali al-Darbasti briefed the visiting delegation on the city’s features.

The first phase has 32 four-storied  buildings. The complex features food courts, cafeterias, recreational and entertainment facilities, super markets and mosques.

One of the largest truck parks of the world, which is part of the first phase of Barwa al-Baraha, is already operational.  The park can accommodate around 4,200 trucks.  

Phase 2 will also have 32 residential buildings and another 30,000 workers could be accommodated in its facilities.

Phase 3 has provision for a multipurpose exhibition hall and the last phase (Phase 4) will have a cricket stadium, shopping mall and hotels.

In the last phase, 16 residential buildings will be made for senior-level employees and engineers.

 

 

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