March/April 2009

Edition 2

 

Platinum Sponsors

 
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    image006 Chairman's Report

     

    The Annual General Meeting of ANZBIQ was held on the 4th March.  One new committee member John Wellington was elected. The committee members then re-elected the Officers of the Committee. Subsequently, Debbie Rogers has also joined the committee.

     

    As we embark on the fifth full year of ANZBIQ the Committee comprises;

     

     

           Desmond Holmes -     Chairman

           Joanne Thomas -        Vice-Chairman and Communications

           John Panteli -              Vice-Chairman and Membership

           Alistair Snow -             Treasurer

           Debbie Rogers -           Events    

           John Ellis -                  Sponsors

           John Wellington -        External Affairs             

           Robert Derbyshire -     Communications – website

           Karen Cemm -            Ex-Officio – representing Austrade

           Hesham Salah -          Ex-Officio - representing New Zealand

                                              Trade and Enterprise

     

     

    I would like to thank, on your behalf, Dale Burtenshaw who retired from the committee. Dale has been actively involved with ANZBIQ joining the committee in 2007 and was the key person who managed our transition to the Sheraton Hotel at the start of this year.

     

    I welcome our new members to the committee and those that have taken on new responsibilities this year, and look forward to working with them during the year.

     

    I would also like to thank our returning and new sponsors for 2009. Our Platinum Sponsors are GHD, Leighton Contractors and Multi Serve Cognition Consulting. Our Gold Sponsors are AEG Ogden, HSBC, Talent Partners, SMEC and Worley Parsons.

     

    As I highlighted at the AGM, ANZBIQ is your organisation and we look forward to your input, both in terms of what you want from the committee as well as the support we need from you to make it happen.

     

    There is a lot going on in Qatar over the coming months, both within ANZBIQ and more generally, details of which are contained elsewhere in this e-newsletter. I would pick out in particular the Project Qatar lunch on Wednesday 29th April, where some 20+ Australian and New Zealand exhibitors will be in attendance. This is a great networking opportunity and we encourage members to bring along a guest from the construction sector to explore potential business opportunities.

     

    Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you at our upcoming functions.

     

    Des Holmes

    Chairman

     
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Text Box: Gold Sponsors

 
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Talent Partners

 

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To contact us:

Des Holmes

ANZBIQ Chairman

T: +974 496 7766

E: dholmes@qfc.com.qa

 

Date

Calendar

Event / Function

Venue
2009    
25th June 3rd Luncheon Grand Hyatt Hotel
1st July Sundowner Sheraton Hotel
5th August Sundowner "
7th October Sundowner "
22nd October 4th Luncheon "
4th November Sundowner "
2nd December Sundowner "
16th December Sundowner "

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check the ANZAC Day info below with words   

        to the New Zealand and Australian anthems

        so you can sing along on 25 April.
 

Joanne Thomas

ANZBIQ Communications

E:joanne.thomast@talentpartnersintl.com

 

Debbie Rogers

ANZBIQ Functions & Events

E: drogers@qatarconvention.com

 

Marianna Westley

ANZBIQ Office Manager

Mobile: +974 569 8493

E: officemanager@anzbiq.org

 

 
 
       
 

 
Austrade Logo

Austrade Report

 

                    

    February & March are exciting months in Doha.

    There were 6 visits to Doha by Australian companies. Two of which were delegation visits.

    The largest delegation was in early February. The delegation was led by Mr Newman Campbell, Lord Mayor of Brisbane city. There were 8 companies participated. The delegation had meetings with QIA, PWA etc and participated in a business forum with QCCI and its members. The visit was a success and hopefully there will be some business generated in the coming time.

    The second largest one was a group of 5 marine boat companies. The companies were quite excited with business potential in Qatar. They had meetings with interested Qatari companies and previously participated at the Boat Show in Dubai.

    We notice that interests in Qatar market from Australian companies has been increased in recent months. Sectors of interest are vary, from architecture to design, from construction to education services, from construction materials to foodstuffs etc.

    I also would like to take this opportunity to thank you all of you for you kind support that has been extended to me generously in the recent 3 months. It was, indeed, my pleasure to know all of you. My contract with Austrade will finish by 6th April.

    I will start looking for a new job and therefore would be grateful if you could let me know of any job opportunity, part time or fulltime. Doha is just a small city and I look forward to catching up with you somewhere, sometimes. I will be contactable at:

    Huong Dang (Mrs)

    Mobile: 602 4587

    E-mail: dlanhuongvn@yahoo.com

    Karen Cemm will be back and resume her role as Austrade Trade Consultant from 6th April and her contact details will remain as previously, namely:

    Karen Cemm (Mrs)

    Trade Consultant – Qatar

    Tel/Fax: 493 4338

    Mobile: 583 7512

    E-mail: karen.cemm@austrade.gov.au

     

     

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest speaker at our February Luncheon was Mr Liam Anderstrem, Vice President Olive Group.

Liam gave us a very informative and entertaining talk about intelligent security and safety solutions in  buildings  under construction and security solutions in the home.

 

 
 

 

 

Thank you to John Wellington who has sent us through a summary of the Labour Law in Qatar

  

This is a summary of the Labour Law in Qatar. Please note that some of these benefits and provisions do not apply to or are different for those working in the QFC and for the government.

The Labour Law No (14) of 2004 sets out minimum rights of workers.

 It does not, however, apply to the following categories of workers:

 

Employees at Ministries, government bodies, public institutions, Qatar Petroleum group;

Armed forces, police, those employed at sea;

Those in casual work;

Those in domestic employment, e.g. drivers, cooks, domestic;

Working members of employer's family; and

Agriculture workers.

 

Benefits for employees

 The Law does not provide a minimum wage or for compulsory insurance and/or any pension schemes although employers are required to pay for medical treatment for work injuries and provide certain medical facilities (depending on the size of the company).

 It does, however, provide for an end of service gratuity. This gratuity will be equal to a minimum of 3 weeks' pay for each year of service if the employee completes at least 1 year of service with the employer.

 The employer is not obliged to pay this gratuity, however, if the employer has a pension scheme with better benefits.

 The Law requires employers to grant the following leave, in addition to annual and sick leave:

 

Pilgrimage leave for Muslim employees - this is unpaid leave, of up to 2 weeks, once during the period of service; and

Maternity leave of 50 days, with full pay, after completion of at least 1 year of service with the employer.

 

Employment of Qatari Nationals and 'Qatarisation' Policy

 The Law requires employers to give priority to the employment of Qatari workers.

 The employment of non-Qataris requires the approval of the Department of Labour.

 The non-availability of a Qatari worker for a job is one of the conditions for obtaining a work permit.

 The 'Qatarisation' policy requires Government bodies and private companies to ensure that Qatari nationals make up a specified percentage of their workforce. In practice, it has so far been applied mainly to large companies and the public sector.

 

Working Hours

 

The maximum working hours are 48 per week, 8 hours per day.

 These maximum hours are varied during Ramadan to 36 per week, 6 hours per day, for both Muslims and non-Muslims.

 These maximum hours do not, however, apply to some categories of workers, including:

 

1. Workers carrying out preparatory and complementary works before or after work hours;

2. Guards and cleaners;

3. Chairmen of boards of directors, managing directors of companies, general managers, heads of departments and those holding supervisory positions.

 

In some cases, "summer work hours" apply to those doing outdoor work.

 

Termination of Service

 

For a contract of unlimited duration, either employer or employee may terminate it without giving reason.

 The notice period for termination under a contract for employees who receive wages monthly or annually, is:

 

if the period of service is 5 years or less, 1 month; and

if the period of service is more than 5 years, 2 months.

Upon termination of employment, all unpaid wages are paid to the employee before the end of the day following the day on which the contract terminates. The employer must also return the worker to the place where he was recruited, or any other place agreed between the parties, at the employer's cost.

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Call for submissions from members

If you have any business news you would like to appear in the newsletter please send submissions to;

Marianna Westley

officemanager@anzbiq.org

OR

Joanne Thomas

joanne.thomas@talentpartnersintl.com

 

 

 

A Word from Our Sponsors.....

 

WorleyParsons Qatar WLL have been awarded the Engineering Design Consultancy contract for the planning and design works for the New Doha Port near Mesaieed on the east coast of the State of Qatar. The Client is the New Doha Port Steering Committee – consisting of members from various stakeholders from Qatari government organizations and private industry.

 

The Government of the State of Qatar has embarked on a major programme to develop the New Doha Port. The new port will cater for the expected growth in container and vehicle carrier traffic as well as general cargo traffic, Qatar Flour Mills, offshore support vessel base, marine support unit, Qatari Navy and Coastguard and Emiri yachts. It will be designed, built, tested and commissioned in 3 major phases with Phase 1 being implemented under a fast track programme over the next 72 months. In addition to the design and construction of the new port, training of personnel, transfer of operational and maintenance activities from the existing Doha port will be planned and implemented in parallel by the Client.

The new port will be constructed at an entirely new inland site close to the coast line to the north of the Mesaieed Industrial City, in the southern portion of Qatar Economic Zone 3 (EZ3), which is located south of Al Wakrah and covers an area of approximately 78 square kilometres.

 

A new marine navigation channel is to be dredged to connect the new port to the existing West Channel, currently serving the Port of Mesaieed. Initially this

channel will be dredged to 230m width and depth of –15.0mCD, and expanded in phases to 500m width and depth of –17.0mCD.

 

 

 

 
ANZIQ 

The ANZIQ group (Australians & New Zealanders in Qatar) joined us at our ANZBIQ Sundowner to promote their group and advertise the social activities they have planned.

All Aussie and Kiwi expats living and working in Qatar can  join in regular get togethers and organised social functions throughout the year.

Feel free to join their mailing list to be kept up-to-date on all their upcoming functions.

E-mail: anziq@yahoo.com.au

Web: www.geocities.com/anziq

 

 

RAS LAFFAN INDUSTRIAL CITY TOUR

 

 

 

 

The trip was held on Thursday 26 March and members and guests who attended enjoyed a fabulous audio presentation, morning tea and VIP tour of the Industrial City and Port areas.

Thanks very much it was "Raslafantastic".

 

Anzac Day

 

 

New Zealand & Australian

Consular Wardens

 

Samson Samasoni - samson_samasoni@yahoo.com

Rob Ross - ross@qatar.net.qa

Brigid Schultz schultz@qatar.net.qa

 

Anzac Day, 25 April, marks the anniversary of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps' first landing on the Gallipoli peninsula in 1915, during the First World War. Although the Allies lost the Gallipoli campaign, this was an important episode in Australia/New Zealand history. It showcased attitudes and attributes – bravery, tenacity, practicality, ingenuity, loyalty to King and comrades – that helped New Zealand and Australia define itself as a nation, even as it fought unquestioningly on the other side of the world in the name of the British Empire, and suffered appalling loss of life.

The day is now the focus for a broader acknowledgement of the costs of war: the sacrifice of all those who have died in warfare is remembered, as is the contribution and suffering of all those who have served. Anzac Day promotes a sense of unity, perhaps more effectively than any other day on the national calendar. People whose politics, beliefs and aspirations are widely different can nevertheless share a genuine sorrow at the loss of so many lives in war, and a real respect for those who have endured warfare on behalf of their country.

 

 

ANZAC Day Dawn Service in Qatar

Saturday 25 April

Marriott Hotel Beach Club

0500

(please arrive 0445)

 

Cost (yet to be confirmed) but approx Qr 60+ (Includes b’fast)

 

 

 

New Zealand holds a rare position in the world in that it has two national anthems of equal standing - 'God Defend New Zealand' and 'God Save The Queen'. Both of these anthems have origins which have been inspired by the fire of patriotism yet were written under markedly different situations.

 

  God Defend New Zealand / Aotearoa

English Version                                                 Māori Version

God of Nations at Thy feet,                                E Ihowā Atua,
In the bonds of love we meet,                           O ngā iwi mātou rā
Hear our voices, we entreat,                             Āta whakarangona
God defend our free land.                                 Me aroha noa

 

Guard Pacific's triple star                                   Kia hua ko te pai

From the shafts of strife and war,                      Kia tau tō atawhai
Make her praises heard afar,                             Manaakitia mai;

God defend New Zealand.                                 Aotearoa

 

Men of every creed and race,                           Ōna mano tāngata
Gather here before Thy face,                           kiri whero, kiri mā,
Asking Thee to bless this place,                        iwi Māori, Pākehā,           
God defend our free land.                                Rūpeke katoa,

From dissension, envy, hate,                           Nei ka tono ko ngā hē
And corruption guard our state,                       Māu e whakaahu kē,
Make our country good and great,                   Kia ora mārire
God defend New Zealand.                               Aotearoa
 
 

 
 
 God Save the Queen

God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save The Queen.
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save The Queen.

 

 

Advance Australia Fair’ is the national anthem of Australia. A revised version of a late nineteenth century patriotic song, it was officially declared the national anthem on 19 April 1984.

 

ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR

 

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history’s page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.

 

In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

 

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We’ll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who’ve come across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair.

In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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