Doha: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued a circular regarding the working hours for commercial activities during the holy month of Ramadan, based on the decision of the Council of Ministers at its regular meeting held on April 22 and in the framework of preventive and precautionary measures taken by the state to limit the spread of the Coronavirus and to complete previous decisions and procedures.
The circular issued today specified the time and working hours for private sector companies and stores will be from 9 am until 3 pm.
The circular excluded the outlets of food and catering, consumer goods, vegetables and fruits (hypermarkets - supermarkets - groceries), restaurants and cafes activities, coffee shops (which are allowed to deliver orders only), and candy and coffee shops and dates.
The circular also excluded telecommunications companies, app-based delivery companies, pharmacies, petrol stations and auto services, maintenance workshops for agencies, bakeries, companies operating in the hotel sector, factories, and maintenance companies (plumbing services, electricity, and electronics), and service companies, logistics and shipping companies operating in ports, airports and customs services from limiting working hours.
It also issued another separate circular that excludes the contracting and construction sector from the decision to specify working hours, issued within the framework of preventive and precautionary measures taken by the state to limit the spread of the Coronavirus, and in the interest of public safety.
The circular clarified that the contracting and construction sector includes the activities of contracting and construction companies, building materials and equipment companies, technical and mechanical workshops, carpentry workshops, offices, engineering laboratories, and warehouses.
The Ministry obligated this sector to take the precautionary and preventive measures such as measuring the temperature of all workers twice a day, isolating any worker whose temperature is high, and preparing a list of all workers with chronic conditions and the elderly category as well as respecting the safe distance, and the use of masks and sanitizers in the workplace and housing, with the commitment of companies and workers to work time and shifting conditions and to prevent gatherings in the workplace and housing.
In the two circulars, the Ministry affirmed the necessity for companies and commercial stores to abide by the decisions of the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Public Health in this regard, noting that any violation of the decisions exposes the perpetrators to the procedures and legal accountability.
The Ministry said that it will work to intensify inspection campaigns to ensure the compliance of the concerned parties with the obligations stipulated in this decision and to control any violations in this regard.
The Ministry clarified that these decisions are subject to amendment and updating according to developments in this regard, calling on all citizens and residents, to obtain information from correct sources, and to follow up on the official pages of the Ministry for the latest news and developments.
The Ministry also urged all consumers to report any violations through the hotline: 16001, or via e-mail: infomoci.gov.qa and its accounts on social networking sites tense MOCIQATAR and Instagram MOCIQATAR and the application of the ministry on smartphones MOCIQATAR.
SOURCE: THEPENINSULAQATAR