Residents shocked at the rate of suicides among Qatar expats
Suicide by an Indian entrepreneur, who was in the mid-40s, on Tuesday in a Doha villa has come as a rude shock to the community, which has seen a total of nine members ending their lives in a span of 53 days.
Gulf Times further reports that the person was running an engineering firm on the Airport Road which he set up five years ago on his arrival from Bahrain.
He had reportedly run the establishment well in the initial years after landing a number of good contracts.
However, over the 18 months the company's financial fortunes dwindled and there was an acute fall in the money flow when clients reportedly failed to pay the firm on time for the works executed.
The situation made the operator a debtor from which he could not recover and the worst occurred when he was found dead in his house on Tuesday, near Gold Gym in Al Hilal area.
The person's wife had recently lost her contract job when her employers downsized their establishment. The couple has three children, the eldest still to reach teens.
Some of their friends said they never thought the man would ever resort to such an extreme action in any circumstances as they were under the impression that he was bold and capable of taking his company out of the woods using his enormous contacts in the engineers community.
He had sourced sizeable funds from outside to run his business impeccably but that did not help, recalled a friend, who is currently heading an expatriate forum in which the deceased was an active member.
The individual was good enough to grant release to many of his staff over the recent months when he found his business was going through difficult times.
"Of the six people left recently, five got jobs," said a friend of the entrepreneur.
A close friend of the victim said though the person was far from happy and comfortable in recent weeks, he never let many others know about his financial issues.
Another Indian who ended his life recently, was an employee of a prominent firm after his services were terminated by employers as part of the downsizing in their company.
He was in his early 30s and left behind a young widow and two small children. He had reportedly owed huge loans to a local bank.
Reacting to the spate of suicides a psychologist said their group would be able to help people who faced similar financial issues in a big way.
When queried about the developments, Indian ambassador Sanjiv Arora said the embassy is reviewing the situation and exploring some practicable options with the help of its affiliated bodies to help those passing through similar conditions.
While replying to a query from Gulf Times, Indian Community Benevolent Forum president Arvind Patil said it is a serious issue which needs to be addressed to effectively.
Since the beginning of 2016, at least two Nepalese and one Sri Lankan expatriates ended their life in Qatar, according to sources in the respective communities.
There were at least two suicides in the Sri Lankan and Nepalese communities as well at the start of the year, it is understood.
dohaplanner: You are right. But in most cases Loans are taken without real thought of risks involved
If loans are judiciously used, it's better than saving on your monthly salary. I wouldn't advise anyone to buy car with Loans but if you have a good business or project idea, then go ahead.
WPS - Whither Payment of Salary ?
because there is too much delay in salaries. WPS is not implemented properly, the government cannot trace companies who is not following wps and they waiting for the expat to file a complaint? what a big joke this WPS. if you want proof i can show you
Sub-contractors are having a hard time during last few years particularly due to delay in payment and sometime not meeting the set specification by the main contractor.
I have experienced a payment delay and myself and the accounts officer landed in to the project managers office and put the question on to him. It’s not a very big amount though but it’s big for me.
My colleague’s language and the questions were matching what it requires to pay the amount. It’s pity that the main contractor is saying the government is not paying. Whereas our services were given not to the government rather to the main contractor. They should generate the money from where they originated the project.
(In our case, the main contractor said, they pump money from their head office & paying the money for us). It doesn’t matter for the supplier where the money comes and how they make the payment. It’s just a matter of honoring the credit period.
If the government is not paid for the main contractor mean’s, this cannot be diverted to the suppliers, they have to sort the issue with the government. The main contractors are from professional countries and they should know how to honor a payment what they agreed rather chasing the suppliers out when they go for a payment, who made a valuable contribution.
If the main contractor is in efficient, what it has to do with the sub-contractors and the suppliers.
that is a good read indeed...
To avoid this kind of tragedy ,,, I recommend everyone to read a book rich dad poor dad by Robert Kyosaki, may be it will help working employees in finding financial freedom and identifying assets from liabilities, understanding about business and debt. Please check it out.
yeah nothing is smooth, not even the smooch.....:)
It's a bit like Rizks' pepper Karak, but with a bigger kick :o(
If you knew Wild Turkey, Rizks, you wouldn't say that. Wild Turkey is a very smooth Kentucky Bourbon. Here, nothing is smooth.
WT, at the moment you can say 'Wild Turkey'.....:)
This is to be expected....
People come here on a contract but believe that they are "entitled" to stay a life time.
They take out huge loans as soon as they arrive to purchase cars they cannot afford or build houses back home they cannot maintain.
Then when the downturn comes - the old jumping off the buildings begins
It's going to be worse with the low oil and gas prices. First, the government will not pay, then the contractor cannot pay salaries, then the workers cannot pay their loans. Wild West in Qatar's economy. Or should I say "Wild East'?
1) may god forgive his sin and provide for his wife and children...
2) another lesson to stay away from loans and debt...
3) the business environment and practices here are so fickle...non payment of dues is second nature...businesses should not provide any services without prepayment...in their desperation for jobs/projects, small operators take any job on offer and then have to chase after the client for their dues and payments... Sad...
the root of all evil is greed........
Indian Embassy need to address this issue in a very professional manner and support the Indian community at this point. Many Indians are facing such issues including those who run their own business. There is a limit to any business man to keep on pulling the business with out getting paid by their clients.
sad
WT, Where is the guaranty ... in this world .... ?
very sad...but suicide is not the solution...it is just pushing your self to a sin
You cannot make any plans in Qatar. Without notice they can kick you out! Expats aren't protected at all!
Think & plan for tomorrow ........... never try to show off & prove to your wife & her relatives ........ live long ,................ Sun, 22.02.2016, 10.09 hrs
We need to be happy ........... keep our lives simpler ......... never borrow from a glass building / coat / pant / tie fellows ...... ..... avoid back biting & telling lies ............... Sun, 22.02.2016, 09.59 hrs