Benjamin Filaferro, Author at LexisNexis Middle East

Oman: New Visa Fees Come Into Force

01/06/202201/06/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Oman Daily Observer, 1 June 2022: Revised fees for the renewal and issue of expatriate work permits come into force in Oman on 1 June 2022.

However, the Ministry of Labour has waived delay penalties for the renewal of work permits from 1 June 2022 as long as permits are renewed by 1 September 2022. In addition, a 30% discount is being offered to companies which follow required Omanisation levels.

The Commercial Fees which are 201-301 Rials will vary with the type of employee. A rate of 301 Rials is payable for senior and supervisory professions which includes specialists and consultants with a rate of 201 Rials available where Omanisation levels are followed. For technical and specialist jobs the rate will be 201 Rials (or 176 Rials when Omanisation levels are followed). In the case of unskilled workers the rate will be 201 Rials discounted to 141 Rials when Omanisation levels are followed.

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News developments

Qatar: New Advertising Guide Issued

01/06/202201/06/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Peninsula, 31 May 2022: Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality has launched the 2nd edition of its advertisement guide, which bans advertisements in certain locations and revises the rules and regulations governing advertisements more generally.

Under the new rules, an advertisement cannot be placed without first obtaining a licence from the respective municipality and paying charges and a security deposit.

The 89-page second edition of “Guide for Planning and Regulatory Requirements and Procedures for Advertising and Publicity Means in Qatar” states which types of advertising fall under its remit. These are any fixed, portable, traditional, e-signboards, whether they are temporary or permanent, which are used for an advertisement. It excludes advertisements in newspapers, magazines, journals, websites, radio, TV, and in cinemas.

The guide bans advertisements in any form including placing, sticking, hanging or by constructing at places of worship, establishments and buildings which are of an archaeological or historical nature and their surrounding walls, plus on trees and plant containers, and traffic signboards and signals.

There must be a balance between Arabic and English texts, and accuracy of translation is also required.

According to Civil Defence, advertisements should not block ventilation equipment in a building or the surrounding buildings, rescue routes, and emergency exits and entrances.

The General Directorate of Traffic requires that advertisements should not be placed so that they hinder traffic flow in any way for different means of transportation or on pedestrian passages or use radiant lights which affect vision.

Designs of advertisements should also not be similar to the traffic signals and signs in terms of size, colour and shape. The Public Works Authority also requires that advertising boards set up on roadsides follow the design plan for the street.

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News developments

Saudi Arabia: Financial Help for Saudi Shot Films

31/05/202231/05/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

The National, 26 May 2022: Films being shot fully or partly in Saudi Arabia will be able to apply for a 40 per cent cash rebate on production costs, the Saudi Film Commission has stated.

The authority has stated the new scheme known as the Film Saudi programme will be open to all local, regional and international film producers. Under Film Saudi, productions that recruit Saudi crew and talent and those that feature the Kingdom’s culture and people and showcase its landscape will qualify for the incentive.

The Abu Dhabi Film Commission also offers a similar incentive, with a 30 per cent cashback rebate on productions, including feature films, television dramas and commercials which are shot in Abu Dhabi.

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News developments

Qatar: Draft Decision Banning Single-use Plastic Bags Approved

30/05/202230/05/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Peninsula, 25 May 2022: Qatar’s Cabinet has approved a draft Decision which would ban the use of single-use plastic bags in the country.

Under the Decision, institutions, companies and shopping centres would be banned from using single-use plastic bags in packaging, presenting, circulating, carrying or transporting products and all kinds of merchandise.

It was proposed by the Municipality Ministry.

Single-use plastic bags would also be replaced with multi-use plastic bags, biodegradable plastic bags, paper or woven bags and other biodegradable materials.

The Cabinet also approved a draft agreement on cancelling visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special and official passports between Qatar and Bangladesh. Also reported in Al-Sharq on 25 May 2022. For full story, click here.

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News developments

Kuwait: Foreigners Residency Law Amendments to be voted on

30/05/202230/05/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Arabian Business, 27 May 2022: Kuwait’s Parliament is going to vote on Foreigners Residency Law amendments.

Those who own real estate in Kuwait could be offered 10-year visas, if the proposed changes are approved.

Expatriates and foreign investors in the country could also soon be granted long-term residency visas in the country.

The maximum residency period for expatriates working in the country could be increased to five years. Once the residency period expires, they will either have to leave the country or renew their residency application.

The residency visa for foreign investors is likely to be extended to 15 years.

Children whose mother is a Kuwaiti national and is married to a non-Kuwaiti could also be offered the 10-year visa.

The duration of the family visit visa is likely to be increased from three months to a year also.

Those who overstay residency permits and visit visas will be fined four instead of two Dinars a day.

Sponsors or employers would have to pay the costs of deporting expatriate workers.

Finally, the Interior Ministry will continue to be responsible for deporting expatriate workers for the public good, to maintain national security and for moral reasons.

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News developments

Qatar: Midday Work Ban Announced

27/05/202227/05/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Gulf Times, 25 May 2022: Qatar’s Labour Ministry has announced the dates of the midday work ban in the country.

Work in open outdoor and shaded places not equipped with appropriate ventilation stands will be banned between 10am and 3.30pm from 1 June to 15 September 2022.

Workers can return to work in the open outdoor workplaces after 3.30pm during this period.

The Ministry has started implementing awareness campaigns on the dangers of heat stress during working hours.

They have done so ahead of the enforcement of Qatar Ministerial Decision No. 17/2021 on the necessary precautions to protect workers from heat stress during summer.

Under the Decision, companies and institutions who have work sites under direct sunlight have to set a schedule specifying daily working hours in line with the Decision and place the schedule in a place which all workers can easily view.

Employers must assess the risks at work sites and conduct the necessary medical examinations for workers to ensure their health and be careful during this period.

They should also comply with the decision on necessary precautions to protect workers from the risk of heat stress.

Work sites which violate the Decision will be closed.

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News developments

UAE: New Classification for Companies on the Way

25/05/202225/05/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

The UAE’s Human Resources and Emiratisation Minister has announced a new classification for companies is on the way.

It will be introduced on 1 June.

It has been introduced to respond to business owners’ demands.

It will protect employee’ rights and encourage innovation and promote the SME sector.

Companies who pledge to comply with the relevant laws and regulations on Emiratisation will be offered incentives.

The classification has been issued by Cabinet Decision No. 18/2022.

Companies will be split into three distinct categories by an interactive automated system which will enable a company’s classification to be changed transparently, in line with the procedures carried out by each company or transactions.

Companies will have to pay the service fees which correspond to the category they are in.

Companies who are in the first category will benefit from significant fee exemptions.

Companies will be able to be promoted to the first category if they meet at least one standard. These include increasing their Emiratisation rate at least three times above the target, cooperating with the Nafis programme to train at least 500 citizens annually or are a venture owned by a young citizen in line with the relevant approved standards.

They also include them being one of the training and employment centres which support implementing the Workforce Planning Policy by promoting cultural diversity or by being active in the targeted sectors and activities determined by the Cabinet based on a recommendation from the Ministry.

Companies which do not meet any of these criteria but have committed to the law and the cultural and demographic diversity promotion policy will be automatically classified in the second category.

All other companies found by the Ministry to have violated Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021 and its Implementing Regulations (Cabinet Decision No. 1/2022) or the relevant resolutions regulating the labour market, or standards for protecting labour rights, or lack of commitment to promoting cultural and demographic diversity in the labour market will be categorised in the third category.

They may also be categorised in the third category if they commit other violations under Ministerial Decision No. 209/2022.

This includes issuing a final ruling that the facility committed a human trafficking crime, used or recruited workers without obtaining work permits, provided incorrect data, documents or information to the Ministry, violated obligations on workers’ wages, housing and safety standards, resorted to fake Emiratisation practices or committed other serious violations.

Service fees for work permits and transfer fees will not exceed 250 AED for companies in the first category for two years. The fees will be 1,200 for companies in the second category for two years. Companies in the third category will not be able to benefit from any fee rebates and the fees for issuing or renewing work permits will be 3,450 AED for two years.

Activities involving the employment of UAE and GCC citizens are exempt from these fees. Also reported in Alroeya on 24 May 2022. For full story, click here.

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News developments

UAE: Probation Period Explained

23/05/202223/05/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Emaratalyoum, 16 May 2022: The UAE’s Human Resources and Emiratisation Ministry has confirmed the employer has the right to appoint any employee for a trial period of up to six months from the date of starting work.

However, there can only be one probation period.

If the employee successfully passes the probation period and continues to work, the trial period will be counted within the period of service.

If the employer wants to terminate the employee’s service during the probation period, they must notify the employee in writing 14 days before the date of termination.

If the employee wants to move on, they must notify the original employer in writing within a month of their desire to terminate the contract.

The new employer has to compensate the original employer with recruitment costs or contracting with the employee, unless otherwise agreed. For full story, click here.

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News developments

Saudi Arabia: Consultation on Draft Education Law Launched

23/05/202223/05/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Gazette, 17 May 2022: Saudi Arabia’s Education Ministry has announced it has launched a public consultation on a draft Education Law.

The law aims to organise all aspects of public education in a way which increases the level of learning to achieve the highest quality in education and improve its outcomes in terms of scientific and skill-related aspects.

If approved, a Public Education Council will be established.

It will have 17 members and be led by the Education Minister.

The Council will have various responsibilities, including approving public education policies and strategies, determining the age of admission to public education and establishing a minimum wage for teachers in private schools.

The Ministry together with the relevant authorities will set models for educational buildings and define their specifications and requirements.

They will also establish Government buildings to meet the objectives of public education. They will have the right to construct and own these buildings by contracting with the private sector.

In addition, they will regulate the use of public and private educational buildings outside of daily school hours and during public holidays to ensure public education objectives are met.

They will also supervise private school activities and follow up on their commitment to the law and regulations.

They will set the standards and controls for determining tuition fees in private schools as well.

They will not be able to be imposed or modified without their approval.

Under the law, education will be in-person at all stages of public education and the Ministry will have the right to benefit from e-learning technologies as part of in-person education.

The Ministry will encourage the private and non-profit sectors to participate and invest in public education services and establish nurseries, kindergartens and private schools at various educational levels in the Kingdom and for Saudi students abroad.

The Ministry will also encourage foreign investment in public education services.

Teachers in public schools will be subject to the Labour and Social Security Laws.

Finally, the Ministry will provide guard services to public schools and set the necessary standards and requirements in this respect.

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News developments

Qatar: Compulsory Health Insurance Clarification Issued

20/05/202220/05/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Gulf Times, 19 May 2022: Qatar’s Government Communication Office has issued a compulsory health insurance clarification.

They have said the system covers non-Qatari workers in the public and private sectors.

This includes manual workers, craftsmen, domestic workers and visitors.

They issued the clarification following the approval of a draft Decision by the Cabinet on healthcare services regulation in the country.

The draft includes provisions related to the rights and obligations of healthcare services beneficiaries, insurance company and healthcare service provider obligations and supervision and control of healthcare services.

They added citizens will receive free-of-charge healthcare services at Government health facilities and health insurance will be mandatory to ensure the provision of basic healthcare services to expatriates and visitors.

They went on to say basic healthcare services include preventive, curative and rehabilitative services, as well as other services set out in the Implementing Regulations.

They said employers and recruiters will pay the premium to cover the basic services of their employees or recruits. In addition to basic services, employers and recruiters may also request additional services subject to additional costs.

Basic healthcare services for visitors include emergency and accident treatment services.

Under the regime, they said insurance companies must provide employers or recruiters with health insurance cards or an equivalent as well as offer hospitals and clinics tailored to them.

Former employees have to be removed from the insurance policy and employers and recruiters must follow the relevant procedures to notify the insurance company after the termination of the employment or recruitment contract.

If an employee or recruit fails to transfer their sponsorship under a new employer on the termination of their contract, the insurance coverage may be extended until the policy or the legally permitted period of residence expires, whichever comes first.

The obligations of employers and recruiters towards their employees and recruits begins from the date of their entry into the country or from the date of a worker’s sponsorship transfer under a new employer or recruiter.

These include contracting with one of the registered insurance companies to cover all employees and recruits and annually renewing the contract within the prescribed deadlines.

It also includes providing healthcare services to all workers and recruits during the period before residence is granted or transferred.

In addition, it includes providing the contracted insurance company with all the necessary information to register all beneficiaries. Also reported in Al-Sharq on 18 May 2022. For full story, click here and here.

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