www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS | 27 SPORT | 40 IEIEA chief says oil price Al Rayyan’s Garciaa bobottoming depends on wins Best Player global growth Award MONDAY 2 MAY 2016 • 25 Rajab 1437 • Volume 21 • Number 6784 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Sheikha Moza attends HBKU graduation Barwa Real Estate 1.3 million expat to invest QR15bn in new projects workers benefit DOHA: Barwa Real Estate Com- pany announced yesterday to invest over QR15bn (about $4.12bn) in various new projects, including on building over 12,000 housing from WPS units aiming to meet the growing demand for affordable accommo- dations across the country. last year under the amended The whopping funds will be labour law. invested in a phased manner over Minister H E Dr Addressing an event yesterday the next five years for developing Eissa bin Saad Al to mark the International Workers scores of real estate projects . “We are Day and the World Day for Safety going to sign agreements with Man- Jafali Al Nuaimi and Health at Work, the minister ateq (Economic Zones Company) with said that Qatar, under the leadership two weeks to develop a warehousing affirms Qatar’s of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin complex spread over 250,000 square Hamad Al Thani, continues to work metres (sqm) along with all the sup- commitment to on developing legislations, improve port services, ancillary buildings and protect workers’ the work environment and maintain other complementary infrastruc- the stability and dignity of all work- ture,” Salman bin Mohammed Al ing people. Muhannadi, CEO, Barwa, said at a rights on the H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF), with graduates of the Hamad “Several international organi- press conference yesterday. occasion of sations have appreciated the efforts Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) at the Student Centre, yesterday. Pic: AR Al Baker → Report on page 5 made by Qatar to improve the sit- → Full report on page 25 International uation of workers and their work Workers’ Day. environment and the required leg- islations that Qatar has enacted recently. The latest of those efforts was to make a new legislation to guarantee protection of workers’ Junk food to be banned at hospital cafes The Peninsula wages. That has made mandatory for employers to transfer their wages on time as per provisions of the labour By Fazeena Saleem food at their cafeterias and vending decide what types of healthy food spread of the disease is in place. law and its executive regulations. The Peninsula machines, said Dr Sheikha Al Anoud can be sold (at such outlets),” she Dr Al Thani, however, said that DOHA: About 1.3 million expatri- The total number of workers who bint Mohamed Al Thani, Director of added. the prevalence of diabetics has not ate workers have benefitted from benefited from the (wage protec- Health Protection and Non-com- The ministry, together with the increased over the past five years the wage protection system (WPS) in tion) system was 1.3 million,” said municable Diseases at the ministry, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), and it is a very positive develop- Qatar, which makes it mandatory on the minister. DOHA: Restaurants in public hos- yesterday. Primary Healthcare Corporation ment resulting from the continuous employers to transfer workers’ sala- He noted that Qatar has already pitals would soon be banned from “We are working on selling only (PHCC) and AMersk Oil has lined up awareness programs being held in ries on time to their bank accounts, made noticeable progress in terms of selling junk food, under a new initia- healthy food at hospital cafeterias a series of events for the Week under the country. Minister of Administrative Develop- protecting the rights of foreign work- tive by the Ministry of Public Health to and vending machines and avoid- the theme ‘Let us beat diabetes’. During the Week, Qatar, together ment, Labour and Social Affairs H E ers in the country and will continue promote healthy eating habits among ing junk food,” she said, addressing In Qatar, the prevalence of dia- with other GCC countries will high- Dr Eissa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi to do it, considering their pivotal role the public. a press conference regarding the GCC betics among the adult population light the most significant issues said yesterday. in development. The ministry is currently work- Health Awareness Week. is expected to be doubled from the related to diabetes. WPS was made manda- ing on a plan to make it mandatory for “We are also having discussions current 17 percent by 2045, unless tory in Qatar on November 3 → Continued on page 7 public hospitals to sell only healthy with nutritionists and dietitians to appropriate action to limit the → Continued on page 5 Saudi Arabia to Labour Welfare Conference Qatar regulates World Cup provide housing projects carefully: Official to 100,000 poorer families QNA Vision 2030. Al Thawadi stressed that Qatar was determined to use Reuters hosting Qatar World Cup 2022 as a motive to improve workers’ DOHA: Secretary-General of the conditions. Supreme Committee for Legacy and He referred to three reports AL KHOBAR: Saudi Arabia’s gov- Delivery Hassan Al Thawadi said that the committee issued related ernment will provide housing yesterday that all projects related to monitoring the implementation for 100,000 low-income fami- to the World Cup are being carried of the workers welfare guidelines. lies over the next year as part of out according to the standards of the “The committee moved imme- a reform programme designed committee. He added that projects diately to deal with the outcomes to strengthen the economy and are monitored carefully. of those reports. The philosophy reduce its dependence on oil, the He revealed that the high growth of committee with companies to Housing Ministry said yesterday. rate of workers have placed many implement the changes focused on The announcement suggests challenges ahead of the country. highlighting rewards rather than authorities are keen to show swiftly These challenges range from market punishment,” he said.. that the reform plan, announced last regulation to providing the neces- Al Thawadi maintained that week, is delivering tangible public sary services and housing. since Qatar is the first Arab and benefits. The plan will also involve Al Thawadi was speaking at a Islamic nation to organise the World economic pain as taxes are raised conference on supporting workers. Cup, it is natural the country will and subsidies are cut. He also said that Qatar has put a lot face many challenges. Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani (right), Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Dar Al “In line with Saudi Vision 2030, of effort over the past few years in He highlighted, however, that Sharq Group, handing over the award to Sheikh Thani bin Ali bin Saud Al Thani, a prominent Qatari 100,000 housing products will be improving workers’ conditions. Qatar gained recognition from allocated and delivered to citizens lawyer, in the presence of Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Towar Al Kuwari (left), Vice-Chairman of Qatar He highlighted the role work- international human rights organ- entitled to subsidies,” the ministry Chamber, during the Labour Welfare Conference at St Regis Hotel, yesterday. ers play according to the country’s isations on the country’s progress said via Twitter. The assistance to Pic: Baher A/The Peninsula → Report on page 7 constitution and Qatar National in the field. the families, in the form of land, villas, apartments or financing, will be extended over a year start- ing on May 8, the ministry said. Among dozens of economic and social goals, the Vision 2030 plan aims to increase the rate of Yemen govt suspends direct talks with Houthis home ownership among Saudi citizens by 5 percentage points by 2020 from 47 percent now. “We AFP try despite a ceasefire, officials said. that came into effect on April 11, a talks since the negotiations opened The sources said that the com- will meet this target by introducing But government representatives senior government official said. in Kuwait on April 21. The UN envoy manders of the 600-strong brigade, a number of laws and regulations; will remain in Kuwait where they “We call on the United Nations said these direct talks were “produc- located in the rebel stronghold encouraging the private sector will continue to take part in indirect to act seriously to end these viola- tive” and had touched on key issues. province of Amran since 2014, had to build houses; and providing KUWAIT CITY: Yemen’s government talks through UN mediator Ismail tions which threaten to undermine But later, the rebels and their allies “chosen to remain neutral” as pro- funding, mortgage solutions and suspended yesterday its participation Ould Cheikh Ahmed, delegates said. the peace talks,” said the government overran Al Amaliqa base in northern government forces clashed with the ownership schemes that meet the in “direct” talks with Iran-backed “We have decided to suspend official who declined to be named. Yemen after hours of clashes, tribal insurgents across Yemen. needs of our citizens,” the plan rebels in protest at their takeover of direct talks with the rebels to protest On Saturday, Yemen’s warring and military sources said, adding that said. a military base in the war-torn coun- continuing violations of the ceasefire” parties held their first face-to-face the fighting caused casualties. → See also page 9 HOME MONDAY 2 MAY 2016 03 QA flies high at Arabian Travel Market Patients’ clinical records to go digital at Qatar Airways’ stand attracted thousands of visitors at Dubai HGH from Friday event. The Peninsula “It means clinicians can spend more time with each patient and less time on paper- The Peninsula work and it will also reduce DOHA: Patients’ clinical records errors in transcription.