BY SACHIN KUMAR
DOHA: At least 10,000 migrant workers are likely to get free Internet with the first phase of implementation of ‘Better Connections Programme’ of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ictQatar).
The ministry, with the help of other stakeholders, is expected to set up 25 computer rooms at labour compounds across Qatar in the next three to six months.
These rooms will be equipped with computers, Internet and other supporting infrastructure, where the workers will be able to use these devices to get information and communicate with their friends and family members.
The programme has evoked positive response from employers and charity organisations.
The ministry yesterday signed a number of Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) with five employers and the Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani Humanitarian Services (RAF), the Reach Out to Asia (ROTA) and Microsoft Qatar.
The employers will set up rooms and Microsoft Qatar will provide the software, while charity organisations will help in training and provide other kind of required support. The contractors who signed MoUs include HBK Contracting, Bin Omran Trading & Contracting, Joannou & Paraskevaides, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and the China Harbour Engineering. They will set up a total of 25 computer rooms at their sites.
The ministry also inked MoUs with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), Qatar Foundation (QF) and CH2M HILL International BV (CH2M). As per the MoUs, these institutions will seek to include provisions with their contractors to provide ICT facilities for migrant workers
“We are delighted to see a lot of enthusiasm from a growing number of public and private organisations in Qatar joining the Better Connections programme, broaden its scope and increase the number of migrant workers who will benefit,” said Reem Al Mansoori, Digital Society Department Executive Director at ictQATAR at the MoU signing ceremony. “Today’s MoUs show the commitment from all of us to achieving digital inclusion across our migrant labour force through improving their ICT skills and their lives as a whole,” she added.
Implementation on contractors’ sites starts immediately and will be based on individually agreed upon plans between contractors and partners involved in the delivery of equipment and training.
Implementation of learning components will be ROTA’s responsibility through coordination, eTraining of volunteers who will train migrant workers to become digital champions, while overseeing training of ‘Digital Inclusion Champions’ at workers’ compounds.
At each compound, a certain number of migrant workers will be selected and trained to become ‘Digital Inclusion Champions’, who will later pass on the knowledge to colleagues.
Microsoft Qatar will donate 1,000 free Windows OS and Office licences to RAF under the Microsoft Software Donation Programme.
ictQATAR will coordinate between all stakeholders to provide information to migrant workers and their employers and provide eLearning content to support basic ICT skills training of migrant workers.
Content is available in migrant workers’ native languages such as Hindi, Nepali and Bangla. RAF will source, prepare and donate computers to be installed at ICT facilities in workers’ compounds.
The Peninsula
