DOHA: The State Cabinet yesterday approved the draft of a law that seeks to ban single workers from staying in groups in residential areas.
In other words, labour camps will not be allowed in areas where families live once the proposed legislation is brought into force.
The Central Municipal Council (CMC) which has been in the forefront of the campaign to remove labourers from residential areas welcomed the Cabinet move.
But construction and contracting companies which are the largest employers of single workers said their employee housing costs would go up and they would, naturally, pass on the burden to the customer.
Since there are no areas specifically designated for single workers, observers say the Industrial Area is the only place where labour lodgings could be shifted.
But, then, the problem is that rents in the already congested Industrial Area would further shoot up, putting immense financial strains on employers.
Security could be another issue once the area has more single workers. Observers recall that Dubai and Kuwait had problems dealing with industrial workers crammed in socially insulated localities such as the Industrial Area of Doha and had to rush forces at least once to tackle chaos. Yet another problem in having single workers in the Industrial Area would be, say observers, the absence of shopping and entertainment facilities. This would force workers to the centre of the city at the weekend. The Industrial Area here is already crowded with labour camps. "So we don't know how and where new and large labour accommodations are going to be made," asked the manager of a construction company.
According to observers, even Barwa Real Estate Company's plans to build a city for single workers have not so far seen the light of the day.
"Companies which have labour camps in densely populated areas can, perhaps, shift them to localities like Abu Hamour and Maizer," he suggested. Nevertheless, labour housing costs would definitely go up, he added.
When contacted, CMC member Sheikha Al Jefairi told this newspaper she was happy to know of the development. "We must thank the government."
She said the single workers' issue was the first one the CMC took up right after being installed for the first time in early 1999. "The demand to remove labour camps from residential areas has been there from nationals and expatriates," she said. She, however, clarified that the proposed law would not apply to educated office, shop or factory workers living singly in group accommodations in residential areas.
By Mohamed Saeed
© The Peninsula 2010
