+ A
A -
Santhosh Chandran
Doha
THE current digital revolution that makes many government services easily available to people online is gradually phasing out document-typing centres across the country.
As residents have more access to government forms and other documents at their fingertips via smart phones, iPad and tablets, many people who used to provide immigration form, translation and letter typing services are steadily losing patronage, making some to quit the job.
Offices providing these kinds of services to migrant workers and expatriate families were very common in Doha and at the commercial centres around immigration office in Al Gharafa and elsewhere.
Many of the people who were making brisk business in the field a few years ago have shifted to some other professions.
Abdul Gafoor, a long time employee in a document-typing office in Doha, said,"I believe more than 80 percent of such 'service centres' located in Doha have closed down in the past few years. When Metrash services came at people's fingertips, these service centres became irrelevant and most of the employees were forced to quit or shift to other fields. Many of them went back to their home countries or migrated to other countries."
Mustafa Abdul Hamad, a typist at an office in Al Gharafa, said,"People's request for work related to immigration services, tenancy contract and translation into Arabic has declined more than 90 percent in last few years. There is no future for this job. Everything has gone digital and no one can be blamed for the situation."
A fish trader at the Central Market said,"Now, I know how to manage services related to immigration with my mobile phone. Earlier, I had to go to business centres for everything. And now all these services are at my fingertips 24/7."
Hussain Ahmed, an employee at a service centre in Al Gharafa, said,"Four years ago, I used to prepare more than 300 letters or documents required for different government services per day. Now, it has declined to below 50."
