By Moza Abdel Aziz Alishaq
The cultural and economic growth and other development that Qatar is witnessing makes the citizen pay in many ways. This process of change has negative as well as positive aspects.
On a daily basis, one faces a series of problems. Some may accept this and cope with it, thinking that it will develop their general awareness. However, many others suffer, especially in their daily encounters with people of diverse cultures.
Earlier, we depended on Arab and Asian workers to repair houses and build villas, apartments and other buildings. In those days there was trust in the deals.
Most of the agreements, if not all, were finalised without any tension or breach by any party. There was transparency in everything agreed upon by the two parties.
The worker could be almost done with his work, but he got his pay only after the job was finished, since it was reserved by the other party based on a verbal agreement, with no written contract or blank cheque involved.
But now, with the economic condition of the citizen and the state improving, the citizen has to pay the worker’s expenses. In his own country, the citizen is preyed upon by Arab and Asian workers who have swept the construction sector.
No one knows how to deal with them and how to safeguard their financial rights as they may become victims of fraud or get involved in disputes, which is unprecedented in the history of our state.
Since the citizen’s monthly income is among the highest in the world, he contracts real estate companies to make sure that his financial rights are protected and his house is completed in the shortest time possible.
But he gets trapped by this decision. He has to pay a huge amount to this company, and on top of that receives false promises about the quality of work and speedy delivery.
Whether he likes it or not, he has to pay the first instalment, which is about a quarter of the total amount, as if the real estate agent is a citizen and the citizen is a resident!
In the first week, the agent fills the place with workers, and the following week he asks for the second instalment, and once he gets it he reduces the number of workers.
From then on, one gets to hear excuses of all types about the pace of work. Of course, the main reason is that the agent is engaged in other projects as well, and the person who has hired him is forced to bear the situation as he has already paid several instalments.
In this situation you either complain to the police and wait for justice or bear the financial and psychological consequences.
Then, you suddenly discover that you had not included certain things in the contract, and you are asked to pay more for them, as they were not specified in the original agreement. In this case, you have to pay or the whole work will be suspended. You cannot end the contract with the company as you have already paid several instalments.
If you look for an alternative, you will be in the same situation again.
Meanwhile, those who hire individual workers face a completely different situation; that is another story.
You cannot deal properly with these people as they are known for swindling, fraud, and rising their prices. In the beginning, you would think that they know everything about construction or maintenance. By the time half the work is done, you realise that it is not their profession, but it is too late since you have already paid them money.
Then a series of problems crops up, such as the worker insisting that you pay for the materials he needs, failing which you will not see him again. You can then search for him or report him to the police and wait for a long time to hear from them.
The nationality of the workers matters, as they have different ways of swindling and committing fraud. You need to deal with each nationality in a different way. Their different cultures are what everyone is talking about.
The citizens caution each other about dealing with a specific nationality or recommend monitoring their work closely. They share sad experiences daily, especially about workers who have no knowledge of construction and maintenance work.
The citizens suffer as they trust the promises of these companies and workers, and they pay all the expenses because they are Qataris, who have high salaries. It is as if these salaries are like a cake that should be shared with these workers.
We hope the government approves measures to regulate the work of these workers and introduces legislation to control the incredibly high prices they charge.
This has to be done in a way that serves the citizens’ interests and without giving any extra benefits to the workers, who may not be able to earn even a quarter of what they earn here if they were working in their own countries.
We can ensure justice in a way that protects the citizen’s rights.
