DOHA: Small construction companies are likely to be hit hard by the ban on labourers seeking driving licences for light and heavy vehicles as they say most of their workers, including technicians and drivers, are on labourer’s visas.
These companies claim it is not easy for them to get visas for drivers, heavy machine operators, mechanics and technicians, among other workers.
They, however, say they get visas mostly for labourers so they must recruit semi-skilled workers and drivers also on menial worker visas.
At least one small construction player said they even have an accountant on a labourer’s visa because they could not obtain a proper visa to hire an accountant.
These companies, therefore, send their workers to driving schools to obtain driving licences for light and heavy vehicles.
Also, some labourers join driving schools on their own and manage to buy used cars so they could make some extra money working part-time. However, according to sources, a positive impact of the ban on labourers seeking driving licences would be that there would likely be a reduction in the number of people coming here on ‘free’ visas (visas that are bought).
It is a common practice with those who come here on ‘free visas’ to work elsewhere and acquire a driving licence and transfer the sponsorship to that company after a year.
Many people who come here on labourer’s visa join driving schools and are promoted by their companies as drivers after they obtain a driving licence.
According to community sources, several illegal private taxi operators are here on ‘free’ visas as labourers and have acquired driving licences.
Community sources say that the fact that there are no restrictions on workers on personal sponsorship to get driving licence would likely increase the demand for such visas.
The Peninsula
