If the government realises that the actions of City Centre Shopping Mall has created a lively debate in QL (which indeed it has!), and having considered all opinions, suggestions, pros and cons of the arguments, perhaps they should look into solving this "problem" or anomaly immediately.
Labourers (assuming this refers to the lowest income group one sees coming in those white buses) earn a monthly salay of QR700, at least in the construction industry anyway. OK, with overtime, they earn say QR1,000 per month. As everyone knows and agrees, this is inadequate to buy the "regular" items from department stores except for the basic necessities. Quite often, this group of people end up in Sofitel or shopping centres near the centre of the Doha. The buses picks them up from their labour camps, drops them off at designated areas and then pick send them back to the camps for another week of gruelling work outdoors.
Generally, these labouers end up in shopping centres NOT out of necessity but because they do not have anywhere else to go unless lest they are prepared to stay in their cabins waiting to start work the next day. Don't forget, they can hardly afford KFC, McDs, movies, bowling/skating and other 'plain' luxuries most other people take for granted.
What needs to be done then? My suggestions are as follows:-
1. Provide dedicated recreational areas for them with basic sporting facilities. eg cricket, football, hockey, traditional games (eg kabbadi), etc.
2. These areas should be equipped with grocery/ their traditional food facilities. Let them have a "feel of being in their own country"
3. Picnic areas (as someone correctly pointed out, many of them enjoy sitting on greens to enjoy their food)
4. Ample shade & landscaping
5. Adequate policing by the authorities (for crime and litter prevention)perhaps with a mobile police station.
The above are some of my suggestions. Give those workers a truly deserved break during weekends. Give them a "carnival" experience, something for them to look forward to every weekend.
If the government realises that the actions of City Centre Shopping Mall has created a lively debate in QL (which indeed it has!), and having considered all opinions, suggestions, pros and cons of the arguments, perhaps they should look into solving this "problem" or anomaly immediately.
Labourers (assuming this refers to the lowest income group one sees coming in those white buses) earn a monthly salay of QR700, at least in the construction industry anyway. OK, with overtime, they earn say QR1,000 per month. As everyone knows and agrees, this is inadequate to buy the "regular" items from department stores except for the basic necessities. Quite often, this group of people end up in Sofitel or shopping centres near the centre of the Doha. The buses picks them up from their labour camps, drops them off at designated areas and then pick send them back to the camps for another week of gruelling work outdoors.
Generally, these labouers end up in shopping centres NOT out of necessity but because they do not have anywhere else to go unless lest they are prepared to stay in their cabins waiting to start work the next day. Don't forget, they can hardly afford KFC, McDs, movies, bowling/skating and other 'plain' luxuries most other people take for granted.
What needs to be done then? My suggestions are as follows:-
1. Provide dedicated recreational areas for them with basic sporting facilities. eg cricket, football, hockey, traditional games (eg kabbadi), etc.
2. These areas should be equipped with grocery/ their traditional food facilities. Let them have a "feel of being in their own country"
3. Picnic areas (as someone correctly pointed out, many of them enjoy sitting on greens to enjoy their food)
4. Ample shade & landscaping
5. Adequate policing by the authorities (for crime and litter prevention)perhaps with a mobile police station.
6. Water cooler or drinking water provision.
7. Adequate parking facilities for buses.
8. Adequate/appropriate telecommunications facilities.
9. Adequate streetlighting.
The above are some of my suggestions. Give those workers a truly deserved break during weekends. Give them a "carnival" experience, something for them to look forward to every weekend.