[Commons-Law] Enterprising workers turn hawkers on weekends

[Lawrence Liang]

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=July2008&file=Local_News2008071243820.xml

Enterprising workers turn hawkers on weekends
Web posted at: 7/12/2008 4:38:20
Source ::: The Peninsula / By Suddep Sonawane

*Doha ? A few dare-devil workers from the low-income group turn hawkers 
on weekends and sell pirated CDs and DVDs illegally in some areas of Doha.
*
One such popular spot where many low-income workers congregate and where 
this illegal business is done is the green square, dotted with trees, 
off the Grand Hamad Street at the HBK signal (Old Toyota signal) junction.

"There are some who are keen to make money. They sell audio and video 
CDs and DVDs and many labourers buy since they are sold very cheap," 
said one worker hanging around in the area. The audio CDs are sold for 
QR2, VCDs for QR3 and DVDs for QR5, according to him.

The pirated copies of audio CDs and video CDs or DVDs are mostly from 
the Asian entertainment world. Those featuring latest Bollywood films 
and songs move quickly from the makeshift shops, which are little more 
than a mat spread out under a tree or in some other convenient location 
with shade. There is demand for movie CDs from other regions too.

"Many workers from Industrial Area, Al Khor, Wakra and even from far-off 
places like Dukhan regularly assemble at some popular public areas in 
the city," said one worker who could communicate articulately. "They can 
do nothing much on weekends as they cannot afford to entertain 
themselves at expensive restaurants or buy things available in malls, so 
they come to such places and buy these CDs to entertain themselves in 
their camps."

"Most workers arrive here in Karwa buses or in private vehicles and 
exchange notes on their friends and families back home," said another 
man hanging around at Grand Hamad Street. "So these spots are a good 
place for those who are brave enough to sell these film CDs."

Pirated CDs and VCDs can be watched on cheap unbranded players, 
available at less than QR100. These players do not have inbuilt features 
that prevent them from playing pirated CDs. Many workers living in 
labour camps own such cheap DVD players that play pirated copies. This 
completes the grey market circle of buyer and seller.