*Cabinet: Masks must for employees of the government and private sectors, clients, shoppers at food and catering stores, and workers in contracting sector
*Violators liable to imprisonment up to 3 years and/or fine not exceeding QR200,000
*MoCI to extend validity of expired commercial licences for a period of 6 months


The Cabinet has made wearing of face masks mandatory from Sunday (April 26) until further notice for government and private sector employees and clients, shoppers at food and catering stores and workers in the contracting sector. 
Non-compliance will attract imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years and a fine not exceeding QR200,000, or one of the two penalties as stipulated in Decree Law No. (17) for 1990 regarding the prevention of infectious diseases.
HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani chaired Wednesday the regular weekly Cabinet meeting using video conference technology.
Following the meeting, HE the Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr Issa bin Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi announced the decisions.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Cabinet was briefed by HE the Minister of Public Health on the latest efforts to contain the novel coronavirus (Covid-19). The Cabinet stressed the importance of adhering to the precautionary measures taken to combat the epidemic.
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Ramadan working hours

The Cabinet decided Wednesday that the official working hours during the holy month of Ramadan this year will be four hours per day in the government sector and six hours in the private sector.
While the employees and workers in the government sector will work from 9am to 1pm, the timing for the private sector is 9am to 3pm.
Foodstuff stores, pharmacies, and restaurants working on deliveries and the contracting sector are excluded from the application of this decision. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in co-ordination with the authorities concerned, shall determine the other necessary activities exempted from this decision.
The previous exceptions decided by the Cabinet with regard to working hours shall continue.
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It was decided that employees and workers in the government and private sectors whose work requires providing services to the public and clients are obliged to wear masks while carrying out their duties and tasks.
Clients visiting government and private sector offices are also required to wear masks. The officials concerned should take the necessary measures to prevent the entry of clients who are not wearing masks.
Shoppers are obligated to wear masks before they enter food and catering stores and during shopping, and those responsible for these shops must take the necessary measures not to allow the entry of non-compliant shoppers.
Workers in the contracting sector are obligated to wear masks while carrying out their duties and tasks, and officials in this sector should provide these masks and adhere to the established precautionary measures.
The Cabinet decided that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) shall take the necessary measures to extend the registration periods in the commercial register and expired commercial licences for a period of six months, and settle any fees due upon renewal.
After that, the Council considered the topics on the agenda and approved a draft Cabinet decision on terms and controls for the use of the lands of Alafjah area for recycling industries.
The project included provisions related to the exploitation of the lands of the region, the co-ordinates of which are on the map attached to this decision by lease, the terms of the lease for individuals and entities, the jurisdiction of the support areas supervision committee, the priority arrangement in leasing, the duration of the lease contracts, and the obligations of the tenant.
The Cabinet approved draft decisions of the Minister of Commerce and Industry to establish and form the national specialised committee for verification of conformity; specialised national technical committees for specifications and standards; to adopt European standards as Qatari standards, and to issue rules for the obligations of chartered accountants, merchants of precious metals or precious stones, trust fund providers and companies with requirements to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.
The Cabinet approved a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Culture and Sports in Qatar and the Ministry of Sports Affairs in Oman for co-operation in the field of youth.
Also approved was a draft agreement for co-operation in the field of plant quarantine between the Ministry of Municipality and Environment in Qatar and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Industry and Melioration in the Kyrgyz Republic.
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