DOHA: A number of hotel managers are worried of the recent decision to ban labourers from having driving licence, saying this would create a negative impact on hotels and the tourism sector in general.
They have called on the Traffic Department to reconsider this decision and to make exemptions particularly for those who are working in the hospitality sector.
Saad Abdul, a human resource director in one of the hotels, said there is a dearth of professional drivers in the hotel sector, in fact some hotel employees such as bellboys and laundry staff also function as drivers. This staff shortage, Abdul said, is caused by a difficulty in hiring professional drivers from other countries considering the long and tedious process. Visa processing alone takes about a month, he told Al Raya daily.
Upon arrival, the driver would spend three months in the driving school, only after which he would be able to take the driving test in which he is not sure whether he would pass or not, said Abdul.
Instead of banning these workers from having driving licence, they can prevent them from buying their own cars; that way we can limit the number of cars on the roads, he added.
Driving licence in Qatar is not a luxury but necessity because there is an absence of effective public transport, workers say, adding while buses are not always available and do not arrive on time, hiring Karwa taxis is expensive which could not be afforded with their limited income.
When the authorities concerned find solutions to the country’s public transportation problem, that’s the only time they can implement this ban, say workers.
The Peninsula
