Qatar is safe but...

I gotta say this before it slips my mind yet again because I'm too busy at work and before I justify their actions to myself. This has happened numerous times before but I keep telling myself to pity certain quarters because they are not being treated fairly .. but in actual fact, they actually should not be given too much face.

In this regard, despite all the criticisms that people here level against Qataris and the Qatar govt, I say that the rules and regulations are necessary to preserve law and order. You will note that the govt rightly considers that they can relax the rules a bit for the educated expats of those certain quarters but will generally enforce them unless special case by case basis.

Now, I'm not going to read what I just said above, before I change my mind and decide to be kind.

The story - I have come across many lorry drivers who bully me - because my office is at a construction site, with other companies' construction sites around as well.

Today was the latest example - I was coming out from my site office to go for a meeting at my main office. As before, one lorry which was actually more than 500m away was very angry that I didn't wait for his majesty to pass. He acted like what some of you posted about Qataris - flashed and cursed and when he saw that I was a woman, even more he cursed. You know, many a time, I am really afraid for my safety because these people can be violent - as evidenced in Malaysia as well. I started to curse him ... but then remembered that if he had his family with him or the next person who he was pissed off at, he would take it out on them.

His reaction is normal and understandable but cannot be condoned. I sure hope it was not one of my company's subcontracted lorry drivers (but I doubt it). Even so, my post will still stand as a record of my opinion in the 2nd paragraph above.

The laws are necessary to keep them in line and for the protection of others. And even though some people whine about them, I think they work. Things could be better and improved but they are necessary as long as there is a need for manual labour.

I think the Qataris know this well. They don't defend themselves, because whatever they say will be criticized and dismissed as purely self protection. But really, that's the reality and they are right to stick to their rules.

How are the formal complaints avenues and checks and balances here for the manual workers? Does anyone know more? And please be logical and not emotional about it.