By MOHAMMAD SHOEB
DOHA: Qatari nationals make up about 30 percent of the total workforce of Qatar Petrochemical Company (Qapco). And the number of nationals in the top management is as high as 80 percent, said a senior official of the company recently.
“Over 80 percent of employees in the top management of Qapco are Qataris. And as far as achieving the target of Qatarisation is concerned, we have witnessed a remarkable success. Currently about 30 percent of our total workforce consists of nationals, and we are confident of achieving the set target of 50 percent in the years to come,” said Dr Mohammed Yousef Al Mulla (pictured), Vice-Chairman and CEO of Qapco on the sidelines of the launch of Qapco Club in Mesaieed on Tuesday.
Under the Qatarisation policy, the overall target for the energy and industry sector is reaching and maintaining 50 percent or a greater number of Qataris in permanent jobs. However, there are public sector companies with less than five percent Qatari employees, far below the target, and continuing to woo the limited Qatari labour force to achieve it within the given time frame.
Qapco, established in 1974, is a joint venture between Industries Qatar (80 percent) and Total Petrochemicals (20 percent). The petrochemical giant is one of the largest producers of low density polyethylene (LDPE) in the GCC region, and supplies its products to over 4,500 industry customers in 145 countries.
Meanwhile, Al Mullah highlighted the need to invest in the development of human capital.
He said that apart from good education and skills development training, having a healthy body and sound mind is also very important to become self-reliant in terms of skilled human resources in the country.
Asked to comment about children, especially those who are struggling to overcome the problem of obesity, he said: “Our younger generations, both male and female, are the future of the State.
“We have to invest in educating them about the values and importance of healthy lifestyle. And it is equally important to communicate to our children about what is not good for their health.
“They should be told that fast-food and carbonated drinks are not good for them. They must eat healthier food for a better life to contribute to making Qatar a better society.”
Al Mulla, who looks much younger than his age, also shared the secret of his health to inspire the younger generations.
He said: “At my age, I am doing exercise four to five hours every week to remain fit. My nature of job requires me to sit in office for over 14 to 15 hours daily, if I don’t do exercise, I cannot work.”
On educating children about the significance of a healthy lifestyle, he said: “Apart from parents and guardians, we all need to approach them by going to schools and learning centres.”
He added: “Some of the children I interacted with, they all had different opinions about the Sport Day. However, many of them said that Sport Day is not only about playing football or cricket or any other game. Sports are also about eating and drinking healthy food, and avoiding the intake of unhealthy stuffs like fast-food that add extra pounds.”
He firmly believes that hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup will leave great legacies. It will not only provide great impetus to develop the sports culture among people, it will also help in all-round development of the country.
“The legacy of Qatar is the sports of the world. The legacy of 2022 FIFA World Cup will be everywhere around Qatar,” Al Mulla added.
The Peninsula
