ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Wednesday 6 November 2013 3 Moharram 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5875 Price: QR2 Qatari bourse Qatar Football reaches Association 10-week high launches series Business | 21 Sport | 31 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Qatar Chamber Govt working to curb inflation defends exit In his first address to Shura Council, Emir sets out policies and vision permit system DOHA: The government has initi- in the past years, but we should not DOHA: The Qatar Chamber has refused to ated measures to control the rising overlook some of the negative phe- budge on its rigid stand on exit permit rules and inflation in the country and is con- nomena that may be associated with said they are needed because sudden and unan- cerned about delays and mismanage- it, foremost among them is the infla- nounced departure of key employees of private ment of projects that are leading to tion problem. No doubt that inflation companies could hit the firms hard financially wastage of the country’s resources, has a negative effect on growth and or in terms of loss of a prized staffer. the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin society, and therefore price rise is a “It should be ensured that whenever the exit Hamad Al Thani said yesterday. problem that worries everyone and permit system is removed, the move does not Opening the 42nd session of the the government will seek to contain adversely impact Qatari companies,” said the Advisory Council, in the presence of it by all available means and tools, and chairman of the Chamber. the Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad I mention in particular the monetary Some people hold key positions in companies so bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir said a and fiscal policies, combating monopoly, if they leave the country for good unannounced, special committee had been set up to encouraging competitiveness, setting that could mean a huge loss to the company finan- propose solutions to inflationary pres- an appropriate timetable to invest cially or in terms of loss of a prized employee, said sures and called for a study to find out in major projects, and coordinating Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassem Al Thani. the reasons behind the unjustified rise between these projects to avert being Then, there are people who have taken bank in the cost of some projects. concentrated in a short period of time loans. Loans are given away by banks against “Despite the high standard of liv- leading to pressure on the available salary transfers, without the knowledge of their ing that we can provide, yet we must potential capacity,” he added. employers. So, if at all exit permit rules are deal responsibly with our resources and A government panel has been set up amended, they need to be done only after taking our economy. This is not only about to propose solutions to control inter- these factors into consideration to avoid affecting the next generation, but also the type nal or external inflationary pressures. private companies and the national economy. of man we are keen on grooming at The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani addressing the opening of the 42nd Individuals and civil society organisa- Sheikh Khalifa told Al Sharq in an interview present. Is he productive or just a session of the Advisory Council yesterday. tions and the Chamber of Commerce published yesterday that the Chamber, which is consumer? Social responsibility and and Industry of Qatar must play their the representative body of the private sector, was abstention from irresponsible extrava- role and endeavour to avoid any unjus- strictly against employers using sponsorship and gance are among the attributes of the first address to the Advisory Council. Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, the tified price rise, because it is a joint exit permit rules as a tool of exploitation. human personality that we want… In The inaugural ceremony was also Chairman of the Administrative responsibility, and the role of those His remarks came in response to a question this context, a study has to be made on attended by H H Sheikh Jassim bin Control and Transparency Authority institutions is no less important than about the State Cabinet recently appointing a the causes that raise the cost of some Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, H H H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, that of the State in this area, said the committee to study the sponsorship and exit per- projects in a way that does not conform Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani, among other dignitaries. Emir. mit rules for foreign workers and whether the with the cost and profit as well as sup- the Prime Minister and Interior The Emir said, “It is our right to THE PENINSULA Chamber supported the removal of the exit permit ply and demand,” said the Emir, in his Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin be happy with what has been achieved Continued on page 10 system. THE PENINSULA Bangladesh court 31 firms face action Municipality shuts 50 outlets sentences 152 DOHA: In a major crack- have been ordered closed for fail- eateries and other outlets cater- down, the Doha Municipality ure to comply with rules despite ing to a large number of expatri- soldiers to death over work visa sale has closed down more than 50 repeated warnings. ate workers living in the area. DHAKA: A Bangladeshi court outlets in the Industrial Area, “More than 50 shops have been The area also has a number of sentenced 152 soldiers to death DOHA: Some 31 companies He said a dozen people run- including several eateries and shut in the current phase and warehouses used for storing food and jailed hundreds more yes- charged with selling work visas ning five gangs involved in entic- groceries, for failing to meet the number may reach 180 in the stuff. terday, after a mass trial over a to foreigners have been referred ing maids to escape their sponsors health requirements. coming phases,” said Al Sayed. The type of violations vary 2009 mutiny in which scores of to Public Prosecution. were arrested. The gangs were The move follows an intensive The erring facilities include depending on the nature of the top officers were massacred. In previous cases referred to sheltering 32 maids. They lured inspection campaign that started eateries, supermarkets, groceries, shop. The most common viola- Some 823 soldiers plus 23 civil- the court, the owners of several maids into fleeing their sponsors early in summer. butcheries, chicken stalls, meat tions include poor storage of food ians appeared in a special court companies found guilty of visa and supplied them to other house- Some facilities are being closed shops and warehouses. items, lack of a valid health cer- over the mutiny, in which 74 peo- sale had faced three-year jail holds for illegal employment. permanently for serious viola- “Some of these facilities were tificate for workers and failure ple were shot, hacked to death or terms. Many other erring com- He told Al Sharq in an inter- tions such as operating without found operating without a licence, to display the contents of some burnt alive. A judge passed the panies have been fined between view published yesterday that a licence and on premises not while some eateries were set up in products. death penalty on 152 soldiers, who QR50,000 and QR450,000, his department had a legal sec- approved by authorities, a senior narrow spaces attached to work Al Sayed said the task of the looted weapons and led the killing according to a senior Ministry of tion that received complaints official of the Doha Municipality sites. Some shops were found health control section is to detect spree, partly in anger that their Interior official. from aggrieved maids and other said yesterday. keeping meat, vegetables and violations and execute decisions. pleas for better pay and treat- The Search and Follow-Up domestic workers against their During the campaign, the many other items in the same However, there are other authori- ment were ignored. See also page 13 Department (SFD) of the min- sponsors. “In 2013, we received 753 municipal inspectors identi- place in the refrigerator,” said Al ties to deal with legal issues con- istry said it received 705 com- complaints and launched investi- fied about 380 erring outlets, of Sayed. cerning the erring facilities. Saudi rounds up plaints of alleged visa sale by gations, along with the Human which 200 have been asked to He said the campaign was An outlet that faced action for companies last year. “We changed Rights Department of the minis- rectify their situation in a given not restricted to the Industrial failure to comply with rules can illegal workers the sponsorship of 454 complain- try. Some 53 complainants were time frame, Mohammed Al Sayed, Area but was part of inspections seek permission to resume oper- ants and referred 31 companies allowed permanent sponsorship head of health control section at being carried out by municipal ation after it rectifies it status. DUBAI: Saudi authorities accused of visa sale to Public change, and 30 were permitted to the municipality told this daily authorities. Municipal inspectors will help rounded up thousands of illegal Prosecution,” said the Director of switch sponsorship temporarily.” yesterday. He, however, said there was a and guide them in the process, foreign workers at the start of SFD, Brigadier Nasser Mohamed THE PENINSULA Of these, 160 shops have rec- special emphasis on the Industrial said Al Sayed. a nationwide crackdown ulti- Al Sayed. Continued on page 10 tified their status and some 53 Area because it has a number of THE PENINSULA mately aimed at creating more jobs for locals, media reported yesterday.