The Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued Friday a circular setting work hours for commercial and services activities, as well as the activities excluded from this circular, as part of the preventive and precautionary measures taken by the state to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and to complement previous decisions and procedures.

The circular specified the working hours of commercial and services activities starting Sunday May 31 of 2020, from seven in the morning until one in the evening.

List of activities that are excluded from the decision to specify working times

Excluded from the circular were food and catering, consumer goods, hypermarkets and supermarkets, groceries, vegetable and fruit stores, as well as petrol stations and auto services, maintenance companies (plumbing, electrical and electronics services), and digital delivery companies. The exclusion extended also to communications companies, pharmacies, maintenance workshops of agencies, logistics companies, freight companies operating in ports, airports, customs services, companies operating in the hospitality sector, factories, bakeries, restaurants, cafeterias and cafes (cafes), which are allowed to deliver orders to customers outside the site of the activity.

The circular noted that restaurants and cafes located in malls are allowed to work through home delivery only, and are prohibited from delivering orders to customers inside or outside their locations.

Suspension of all commercial activities in stores and offices on Friday and Saturday is still in effect

The decision confirmed that the circular regarding the suspension of all commercial activities in stores and offices on Friday and Saturday is still in effect, with the exception of activities previously identified. The decision also confirmed that the decision to close retail stores in malls and shopping centers is also still in effect, with the exception of food outlets and pharmacies.

Reporting any violations

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.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry called on all companies to abide by the decisions of the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Public Health in this regard and noted that any violation of the provisions of this decision will be subject to legal accountability. The ministry added that the circular could be amended in accordance with the latest developments, calling on the public to obtain information from the correct sources and follow its official page.

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