ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER 11 January 2014 10 Rabial I 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5941 Price: QR2 ON SATURDAY US seeks closure in spat with India WASHINGTON: The United States yesterday said it hoped that a diplomatic row with India was now over. Relations have been in crisis since December 12 when Indian consulate worker Devyani Khobragade was arrested in New York for alleged visa fraud and making false statements about the employment of a domestic servant she had brought with her from India. Khobragade was formally charged in a New York court, but was granted diplomatic immunity on Wednesday, allowing her to fly home. “We expect and hope that this will now come to closure, and the Indians will now take significant steps with us to improve our relationship.” But she confirmed that New Delhi had asked Washington to with- draw an embassy official in a fresh measure against the US diplomatic corps in India. See also page 14 Tunisia’s new PM takes office TUNIS: Tunisia’s new premier Mehdi Jomaa took office yesterday to lead a care- taker government until elections later this year after the ruling Islamist party’s premier resigned in a deal to complete its steps to democracy. Jomaa, a former industry minister, will head a non-par- tisan cabinet after compromise between the Islamists and secular opponents. “I am not a miracle worker, but I prom- ise I will do my best... we are doing eve- SMALL FIRMS, rything possible to overcome hurdles, to reform what we can reform, and bring back stability,” Jomaa told reporters. See also page 8 Al Qaeda group fights back against rebels BIG PROBLEMS BEIRUT: Al Qaeda-linked jihadists struck back against rival rebels in east- ern and northern Syria yesterday after THE ISSUE a week of internecine fighting among opponents of President Bashar Al Assad in which 500 people have been killed. In a coordinated offensive, rival armed A draft law recently approved by it increasingly difficult for them to operate. on the job because the Medical Commission groups have seized several ISIL strong- “In Qatar, it is becoming so difficult for a wouldn’t give an appointment for the health holds in Aleppo, on the border with Turkey, the Advisory Council recommends small business to operate and survive,” said check. and further east in Raqqa. The Syrian initiating stricter punitive action an operator of a small eatery not wanting Under increasing pressure to cater Observatory for Human Rights said ISIL against food outlets, including his name in print as that might offend the to an exploding population, the Medical fighters pushed back the rival rebels on authorities. “Laws are being made stricter in Commission has recently begun operations the eastern approaches of Raqqa yesterday. stores and eateries. our case, while big businesses are thriving, of a unit dedicated exclusively to low-income They also killed 20 fighters in the town of with little intervention from the authorities.” workers. Al Bab, northeast of Aleppo. he draft suggests that, among other The operators of small businesses say Plans are also afoot to set up a separate things, an outlet found in breach they face a number of challenges, promi- unit within the premises of the Medical Israel unveils 1,800 of the rules should be closed for nent among them being frequent and unan- Commission in Abu Hamour for checks- Ttwo months rather than one, as nounced inspections by municipal inspectors, ups for food handlers. The Commission settler homes punishment. visa woes with regard to their workers, and announced last August that studies to the Talk of the draft has led to some worry above all, having to wait for months on end effect were being conducted. JERUSALEM: Israel unveiled plans among small businesses of different types to get an appointment with the Medical It is common for eateries, meat shops, bar- yesterday for more than 1,800 new set- —particularly the small and medium-sized Commission that must run health checks on ber and beauty salons to confront a health tler homes in a move the Palestinians eateries that will be directly affected, as their newly recruited staff (barring laundry inspector at odd times as they normally barge said was aimed at forcing Washington to well as basic service shops (like hair-cutting workers) so they can work. Renewal of health in unannounced. “An inspector slapped a fine abandon its Middle East peace drive. salons and laundries), retailers (grocery permits annually is also a must and that too of QR300 on me just because I was not wear- The settlement move was believed to be stores), bakeries, meat shops and beauty takes a lot of time. ing the apron. It was closing time and I was an Israeli response to the release 10 days parlours, to name a few. As for the eateries, even those that cater thinking of going home when a customer ago of a third batch of veteran Palestinian The owners and operators of these busi- to an upper-middle or high-income clien- walked in, and I thought, ‘let me do his hair prisoners in accordance with commit- nesses say they wonder why the government tele suffer such woes. An operator of one of quickly’,” said an employee of a barber shop ments made to Washington last year. The PAGEis becoming stricter6 in their case and mak- them said he had to let a newly-hired worker in the Old Airport Area of Doha. announcement will see the construction of ing laws more and more stringent, making sit idle for months before he could put him Continued on page 2 1,076 units in annexed east Jerusalem and 801 in the occupied West Bank. See also page 9 AGENCIES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 JANUARY 11, 2014 ON SATURDAY 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Home PICS: QASSIM RAHMATULLAH Rules too strict, lament small firms ‘Arbitrary’ enforcement of regulations creates atmosphere of uncertainty and fear DOHA: Small businesses are facing big problems in Qatar. Burdened by regulations, pro- cedural wrangles and much- delayed payments from main contracting companies, they are being pushed back by a tide of restrictions from various quarters. The regulatory burden is particularly heavy on eateries. Restaurateurs complain that unprecedented directives and frequent penalties are having a chilling effect on their busi- nesses. “Of course, we are bound to strictly adhere to the safety and health guidelines set by the that the country cares for your payment problems. These com- “The bigger companies are driver. To run a company with it is mandatory that fire and authorities. But the bureaucrats health. It’s the job of the officials panies are normally associated directly in touch with top bureau- five employees you need at least safety systems be installed by are often going overboard. The to ensure that regulations are with major contracting compa- crats and are capable of eas- QR50,000 per month as establish- these authorised companies, the penalties are so heavy in some strictly followed. There is noth- nies involved in huge projects. ily resolving their problems. In ment cost. But you cannot raise entrepreneurs have no option but minor cases that we are forced ing wrong in penalising erring Normally, the payment is made a our case, we need to talk to our this amount form the market to depend on them, said another to shut down our establishments restaurants. It is important that couple of weeks after the submis- sponsor, who is more often not with just two workers. Then the businessman. once and for all”, a restaurateur the eateries are run with strict sion of the invoice. But that is now familiar with the nitty-gritty of option is to look for more work- A senior official in the Civil told this paper. hygiene. But the authorities must an old story in Qatar. There are the businesses that we are doing. ers outside, which means you are Defence directorate recently Much of the regulatory burden send out warning signals to the now instances when payments are Often, it is very difficult to reach violating the country’s law. said efforts by the department is imposed not by the authorities owners before taking extreme delayed for more than 120 days, them when we badly need their The banks do not give you loans to improve safety and security but by the bureaucrats. steps like closing down of shops”, although there are laws in Qatar support,” said an entrepreneur. unless you have a strong balance at malls, hotels and other com- “Once, we were told to replace he said. to ensure timely payment of bills. You cannot run a small busi- sheet for the past six months. You mercial centres had met with a the tiles on the entire floor after Small companies involved in “The market is so competitive ness without huge money in cannot expect prompt payment positive response. Many of these an official detected a single bro- subcontracting work and supply that we cannot afford to stop Qatar, said an entrepreneur who of your bills by your contractor. facilities have signed contracts ken tile in our restaurant,” said of construction material are fac- doing business with the default- ran a small contracting company These are all worrying factors for for continuous maintenance and another restaurateur. “Of late, the ing huge delays in getting their ing companies or projects. You that mainly did maintenance and small and very small contracting checks under the supervision of frequency of inspections has gone payments, which was unheard of stop business, they know there plumping works for nearly three companies.