QNA Doha: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani mourned with great sadness and sorrow HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of Kuwait, who has passed on to the mercy of God Almighty. In a statement issued by the Amiri Diwan, H H the Amir said that the late H H Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was a great leader. H H Amir also declared mourning in the country for a period of three days and flags at half-mast. The Kuwaiti Amiri Diwan announced today the passing of the Amir of the State of Kuwait H H Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. "With great sadness and sorrow, the Amiri Diwan mourns the passing of His Highness, the late Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah," the Amiri Diwan said in a statement reported by KUNA. The statement expressed condolences and commiserations to the people of Kuwait, Arab, Islamic countries, and the world, praying for mercy on the soul of the deceased.

The Department of International Studies and Affairs of the General Directorate of Drug Enforcement, in cooperation with the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Interior, organized an open awareness seminar to the public through visual communication media on Monday, 9/28/2020. Lieutenant Abdullah Qasim, Officer of the Media and Awareness Section at the Department presented the topic as part of the Directorate’s endeavor to raise awareness of all community members about the harms and dangers of drugs. The webinar began by an introduction to the General Directorate of Drug Enforcement, as it is the authority concerned with implementing the operations of controlling and combating various drug crimes that occur in violation of Law No. (9) of 1987 and its amendments regarding drug control as well as explained the work strategy pursued by the Department that is based on reducing the illicit supply and demand for dangerous materials and psychotropic substances. Lt. Abdullah Qasim also pointed to some of the functions of the General Directorate of Drug Enforcement, such as preventing, and controlling drug crimes and psychotropic substances, receiving reports and complaints, gathering evidence, carrying out investigation, and cooperating with other relevant departments to reach the perpetrators in preparation for bringing them to trial. The Directorate’s functions include combating and controlling the crimes of cross-border smuggling through the air, sea and land ports in coordination with the concerned authorities, and combating and controlling the cultivation of narcotic plants or their promotion inside the country. The webinar also dealt with a number of awareness-raising aspects regarding the prevention of the risks that drugs cause to the individual and society, and the types of medicines and medical drugs that are prohibited to be brought into the country or used without approved prescriptions. He urged the public not to carry the belongings of others while traveling to Qatar without checking their contents to avoid legal accountability.

Umabot sa 312 Overseas Filipinos at 10 infants ang naiuwi nitong Huwebes ng gabi, 24 September 2020, sakay ng PAL chartered flight mula Doha patungong Manila na pinondohan ng PH Government, partikular ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Pangatlo na ang nasabing chartered flight na napondohan ng DOLE, bagamat simula pa noong May 2020, ang Philippine Embassy at POLO sa Qatar ay nakapagpadala na ng kabuoang 10 chartered flights at dalawang special commercial flights sa tulong ng Philippine Airlines. Umabot na sa 3,753 ang kabuuang bilang ng mga Overseas Filipinos at 45 na infants ang naiuwi ng PH government mula sa Qatar sa patuloy na pagaasikaso ng PH Embassy at POLO-Doha, at sa pakikipagtulungan ng Qatari government, mga concerned nitong ahensiya at iba pang stakeholders.

Kung dati ay kinakailangang valid ang QID o RP ng isang working expatriate (manggagawa) para malipat ito sa ibang kumpanya, sa pinaka bagong ministerial decision ng Ministry of Interior, maaari ng makalipat ang mga expats sa ibang kumpanya kahit pa expired na ang residency permits (RP) o QID ng mga ito, sa loob ng 90-araw matapos ang expiration. Ito ang napapaloob sa bagong ministerial decision na nailathala sa official gazette nitong Linggo, 20 Sep 2020 at naibahagi rin sa Twitter ng Ministry of Justice. Ayon sa nasabing desisyon, kinakailangan ng employer na magsumite ng karagdagan o susog na kontrata sa orihinal na kontrata ng manggagawa kung nanaisin nitong pagpatrabahuhin pansamantala (ayara) ang manggagawa. Ang nasabing pansamantalang kontrata ay dapat pirmado ng employer at ng manggagawa, at ito ay dapat eendorso sa MADLSA. Napapaloob ito sa Ministerial Decision No. 51 of 2020 na nag-aamyenda sa ilang probisyon ng executive regulations ng Law No. 21 of 2015, o mas kilala sa tawag na entry, exit and residency of expatriates law. Ang article 1 ng Ministerial Decision No. 51 of 2020 ay nag-aamyenda sa mga probisyon ng Article No. 65 at 67 ng executive regulation ng Law No. 21 of 2015. Ayon sa naamyendahang Article 65, maaaring makalipat sa ibang kumpanya ang manggagawa alinsunod sa mga probisyon nitong bagong desisyon. Ang nasabing paglipat sa ibang kumpanya ay dapat ipaalam ng manggagawa sa tanggapan ng Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs (MADLSA) alinsunod sa mga patakaran at proseso nitong bagong desisyon. Ang nasabing bagong desisyon na ito ay magkakabisa isang araw matapos itong mailathala sa official gazette, ayon sa Article 3 ng nasabing desisyon.

Qatar-based GWC (Q.P.S.C.), a leader in supply chain solutions including warehousing, freight forwarding, commercial, fine art, and event logistics services, was announced as the first Regional Supporter and Official Logistics Provider for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ today. As such, GWC will be the key operational supplier of logistics solutions for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. GWC, which was the National Supporter and Official Logistics Provider for the FIFA Club World Cup 2019™, will build on this experience and draw on its robust network of contacts throughout the world to deliver logistics and supply chain services for the FIFA World Cup 2022. Speaking about the announcement, FIFA’s Chief Commercial Officer Simon Thomas said: “Logistics are critical to an event as large and complex as the FIFA World Cup, so having GWC on board as a Regional Supporter and the Official Logistics Provider for the tournament will provide FIFA and its Commercial Affiliates with crucial support and expertise in logistics and supply chain management, which will ensure a smooth and efficient delivery of the competition.” GWC Chairman Sh. Abdulla bin Fahad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al-Thani said: “Today marks a landmark achievement in the history of GWC as we are entrusted to deliver the logistical requirements for the FIFA World Cup 2022, and today we become a trusted player in the journey towards 2022, proudly doing our part in actualising another milestone of Qatar’s vision. We enter this agreement with confidence that we will showcase the world-class sporting and logistics infrastructure that Qatar has developed over the years, while embodying the values of sportsmanship and encouraging active engagement of football enthusiasts and wider audiences.” GWC has a logistical infrastructure covering more than three million square metres, including the largest privately-owned logistics hub in the region, along with a team of dedicated and innovative specialists and state-of-the-art IT systems. The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will take place from 21 November until 18 December in eight stadiums around Qatar – three of which are already fully operational, with two more scheduled for completion by the end of the year. For the latest tournament news, visit FIFA.com/WorldCup.

The Ministry of Interior signed a cooperation agreement with Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) to extend cooperation in implementing an optional course in forensic medicine. The course will be presented by the WCM-Q in cooperation with the Forensic Medicine Center at the Ministry of Interior. The agreement was signed by Assistant Director of Public Security Maj. Gen. Abdullah Mohammed Al Suwaidi and Dean of WCM-Q Dr Javaid Sheikh. Speaking on the occasion, Maj. Gen. Al Suwaidi said that the forensic medicine is one of the main pillars of achieving justice, uncovering crime, decoding its vagueness and helping the judiciary, prosecution and investigation officers to reach the perpetrator. He added that the agreement between the WCM-Q and the Forensic Medicine Center would contribute to the participation of faculty members at the College with the Forensic team at the Center to provide educational curricula and training in forensic medicine. For his part, Dr Javaid Sheikh welcomed the cooperation agreement, and observed it as an opportunity for students of the College of Medicine to train in forensic medicine at the Center of the Ministry of Interior and benefit from the expertise of the doctors working in the center and learn about the work they do. The cooperation agreement includes providing a good material for college students during the study period for specialization that combines the tasks of the doctor and the investigator at the same time. The Director of Planning and Quality Department of the Ministry of Interior Brigadier Abdul Rahman Majid Al Sulaiti said under the agreement, students of WCM-Q, who are registered in the subject, will receive appropriate training from faculty members in addition to an integrated team of forensic doctors at the Ministry of Interior's Forensic Medicine Center. He noted that the Ministry had previously developed similar cooperation between the Center and the College of Medicine at Qatar University. Brigadier Al Sulaiti stressed that the Ministry is constantly working on cooperation with academic bodies, research centers and civil society institutions in the country to achieve the common good, security and stability.

Qatar, Doha, 19 September 2020: Swedish furniture giant, IKEA, launched its all-new 2021 Catalogue at a one-of-its-kind virtual event. This year’s catalogue, which is the 70th edition, is created as a handbook that feels like a friendly and optimistic problem-solver full of smart tips, hands-on ideas and small affordable shifts, rooted in real life at home. It is a way of sharing knowledge and a point of view that a better home creates a better everyday life. The handbook is filled with “how-to’s” that show how creating a better home doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive or time consuming. IKEA believes that there’s no place more important than home. That’s why for the launch of the new catalogue, it hosted an independent research of more than 2,000 people to understand the wants and needs of Qatar better when it came to life at home. The research also dug into how this has changed since 2019 with the new challenges that the year has seen. Changing rooms in the face of a pandemic Almost half of the people in Qatar found themselves spending more time in a different room this year due to COVID-19, with 41% using their living rooms to work. With the pandemic forcing more people to stay at home, home décor became a priority with 47% focusing on this in the last three months and almost half (48%) choosing to spend money on their home space rather than saving. Affordability is key to the IKEA business idea, which is built into every product and service to ensure that many people can enjoy a better life at home. New collections SAMMANKOPPLA IKEA knows that people today want their personalities to be shown in their home. However, both space and money are limited when living in big cities. Since multi-function and creativity is key in order to enable both a small space living solution and an expressive design piece, IKEA turned to Greyhound Original. The result is a collection influenced by Asia, called SAMMANKOPPLA which means interconnect or unify. The collection is now out in the stores. LEGO IKEA is a very playful company and knows that playtime is crucial for the well-being of both adults and children. A year ago, LEGO Group and IKEA partnered to explore and develop solutions to stimulate play all around the home. The collaboration will result in BYGGLEK which will be launched in stores later this year in October. Plant Balls IKEA is also introducing a more sustainable alternative to the iconic IKEA meatball. The new IKEA plant balls look like meat and tastes like meat but do not contain any animal protein or ingredients. The plant-based balls will be launched across all stores in Qatar in November 2020. Commenting on the launch, Vinod Jayan, Regional Managing Director, IKEA said, “Now in its 70th year, the IKEA catalogue 2021 aims to inspire people to live healthier and more sustainable lives at home – this has never been as important as it is today. On the path to a better life at home, small steps make a big difference. An armchair, a rug, a potted plant or a lamp can change your mood, day and perspective.” He continued, “We know that many people in Qatar have more limited budgets today. That’s why many of the solutions featured in this year’s catalogue are accessible for people with any budget and help them maximise their space and transform their favourite rooms.” This year’s catalogue comes in both a print version as well as digital version that is optimised for different channels and platforms. Carla Klumpenaar, General Manager, Marketing and Communication commented, “The IKEA catalogue 2021 is not just a catalogue – it is a collection of inspiration and knowledge of life at home for all IKEA online and offline channels, for digital and physical touchpoints. We are continuing to develop the global marketing channels and at the same time create content locally to become even more market relevant with a selection of styles, situations, segments and stories.” For more information, please visit https://www.ikea.com/qa/en/

The Traffic Awareness Department at the General Directorate of Traffic, in cooperation with the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Interior, organized an open awareness webinar on traffic safety. The program was open to all groups of society to participate, including representatives of companies, institutions and individuals. Officers from different departments at the traffic including Traffic Awareness Department, Traffic Safety, Patrols, Traffic Investigation and Licensing Department presented different topics in the seminar presided by First Lieutenant Ahmed bin Hamad Al Thani, officer at the Traffic Safety. Captain / Saud Abdullah Al-Hamad - Officer of the Traffic Safety Department presented the tasks that the traffic personnel perform in regulating the movement of vehicles, supervising and being present on the road to reduce the occurrence of accidents and to control violators of traffic rules. He also noted that the department carries out studies on all traffic diversions and issues permits related to road closures and plans. He also explained the classification of traffic accidents and the importance of the presence of radars to control traffic on the roads and prevent exceeding the speeds specified for each road, and announcing the locations of radars on the roads and the specified speed for each road. Captain Hamad Talib Al-Marri from the Patrols and Traffic Investigation Department addressed the role that traffic patrols play on the roads in monitoring and organizing the movement of vehicles. He said that in light of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, traffic patrols work to confirm the adherence to the precautionary guidelines of the authorities by road users, especially with regard to limiting the number of passengers, and wearing masks. He also stressed the importance of adhering to traffic rules and avoiding committing traffic offenses. Captain Abdel Wahid Gharib Al-Anezi from the Traffic Awareness Department presented a set of traffic advice and instructions related to road safety, reviewing a number of awareness programs prepared by the Department in this regard. The program concluded with the presentation of Lieutenant Yousef Fahad Al-Ali, Officer of the Licensing Affairs Department, in which he explained the tasks that the Department carries out, such as supervising the work of the external sections related to driving licenses and vehicle licenses of all kinds, issuing traffic certificates. He explained the procedures followed in issuing and cancelling vehicle licenses, and issuing driving licenses of all kinds and documenting all data related to mechanical vehicles and driving licenses.

Qatar government has been proactively continuing its effort to implement reforms on workers welfare and related policies governing the entry, exit and residency of expatiates. Another milestone decision from the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs (ADLSA) has been issued through the Government Communication Office asserting Qatar’s efforts to protect the interests of employers and employees alike as it announced today a major step forward in its labour reform programme, introducing a non-discriminatory minimum wage and removing the No-Objection Certificate requirement to change jobs for employees. According to, Law No. 17 of 2020 on Setting the Minimum Wage for Workers and Domestic Workers sets the minimum wage for all private sector workers, including domestic workers, at QAR 1,000 per month as a basic wage, as well as QAR 500 per month allocated by the employer for accommodation expenses and QAR 300 per month for food, unless the employer already provides adequate food or accommodation for the employee or domestic worker. ADLSA will be working with employers to update all employment contracts where workers earn less than the amount established by the new Law, which will come into force after 6 months of its publication in the official gazette. The minimum wage was decided following extensive consultations with a specialised national committee composed of relevant authorities in Qatar to consider the matter. The law is the first of its kind in the Middle East and will provide additional stability to Qatar’s labour market. In light of the above, a Minimum Wage Committee will be formed and tasked with frequently studying and reviewing the minimum wage of workers and domestic workers. The government also introduced Decree Law No. 18 of 2020 amending some provisions of Labour Law No. 14 of 2004 and Decree Law No. 19 of 2020 amending some provisions of 2004 Law No. 21 of 2015 regulating the entry and exit of expatriates and their residence, which protects the rights of both employers and employees and facilitates the employer change process. This will drive greater competition in Qatar’s labour market by allowing employees to change employers and allowing employers to attract the best talent on the local market. As part of our efforts to boost the effectiveness of the Wage Protection System, the new amendments to the Labour Law prescribe stricter penalties for employers who fail to pay their workers’ wages and introduce penalties for employers who fail to provide adequate accommodation for their workers, in line with the standards established by the Ministry. The new amendments also include increasing the number of labour dispute resolution committees in an effort to tackle the number of labour disputes, facilitate workers’ access to the rights, and expedite legal proceedings. HE Yousuf Mohamed Al Othman Fakhroo, Minister of Administrative Development, Labour & Social Affairs, said: “The State of Qatar is committed to creating a modern and dynamic labour market. In line with Qatar Vision 2030, these new laws mark a major milestone in this journey and will benefit workers, employers, and the nation alike.” Attracting the desired combination of migrant workers, protecting their rights, and ensuring their safety is part of the human development goals of Qatar’s 2030 National Vision. With today’s announcement, Qatar delivers on its promise to expand the labour market in a manner that drives competition, boosts investment in the local economy, and drives economic growth in Qatar. To ensure compliance with the changes, ADLSA is working with competent authorities to upgrade the Wage Protection System, strengthen the capacity of inspectors, and apply stricter penalties to companies that violate the law.