Benjamin Filaferro, Author at LexisNexis Middle East

Egypt: Maternity Leave Provisions Announced for Female Government Employees

21/08/202121/08/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Egypt Today, 19 August 2021: The Egyptian authorities have announced the maternity leave provisions in the draft labour law.

It has been submitted to the House of Representatives.

All of the law’s provisions will be applied to women who are working without discrimination.

A woman will be entitled to paid maternity leave for four months. They may start taking the leave before they give birth and it must start to be taken within 45 days of them giving birth.

They will only be entitled to this leave twice during their professional career.

Women who are on maternity leave will not be able to be dismissed or have their employment terminated.

Women who return to work will be entitled to a nursing hour. They may take this in one instalment or two instalments in a day. This hour should be deducted from their working hours and no deductions for this should be taken from their pay.

A woman who works in a facility which employs more than 25 workers should be given unpaid leave for up to two years to care for their child. They may not take this leave more than three times throughout their career.

A woman may terminate the employment contract because of marriage, pregnancy, or childbirth, provided they inform their employers in writing three months ahead of the date of marriage, pregnancy, or delivery.

An employer who hires women must hang a copy of the women’s employment system in the workplace.

Employers who recruit more than 100 women, must establish a nursery or outsource a nursery to care for children of female employees under the terms and conditions determined by the relevant Minister.

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News developments

UAE: Central Bank Issues New Hawala Providers Guidance

21/08/202121/08/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

The UAE’s Central Bank has announced it has issued new guidance on anti-money laundering and tackling terrorist financing to Registered Hawala Providers and Licensed Financial Institutions who provide services to them.

It came into force today.

It was issued after considering Federal Decree-Law No. 20/2018 and Cabinet Decision No. 10/2019 as well as Financial Action Task Force standards and guidance.

RHP have to comply fully with UAE requirements relating to targeted financial sanctions and suspicious transaction reporting). They also have to establish and maintain an effective anti-money laundering and terrorist financing compliance programme to prevent misuse of this activity to facilitate money-laundering or terrorist financing. This programme should include a competent compliance officer, appropriate customer and agent due diligence, transaction monitoring and record keeping.

In addition, they have to maintain an account with a bank operating in the UAE to be used for settlement and provide the Central Bank with details.

Licensed Financial Institutions should accept RHP customers and manage any risks from these transactions through appropriate controls. These institutions must not accept customers who are unregistered hawala providers based in the UAE and must immediately report an STR to the UAE’s Financial Intelligence Unit. They should also advise the Central Bank when they are detected and closely monitor the relationship.

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News developments

Egypt: First License for Financial Leasing for Small Business Approved

18/08/202118/08/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Youm7, 15 August 2021: Egypt’s Financial Supervisory Authority has announced it has issued the first license to a company providing financial leasing services to small businesses.

The approval has been issued as part of the implementation of Egypt Law No. 176/2018.

The Authority said it will boost financial inclusion in the Egyptian market and open new opportunities for small businesses to extend their operations.

For full story, click here.

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News developments

Oman: Motor Insurance Law Amendments Approved

17/08/202117/08/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Oman’s Sultan has approved amendments to the Sultanate’s Motor Insurance Law.

They have issued Oman Sultani Decree No. 53/2021 to amend Oman Sultani Decree No. 34/1994.

Anything which contradicts or contravenes with the Decree will be repealed.

It will be published in the Official Gazette and come into force the day after it is published.

The Sultan also approved Oman Sultani Decree No. 54/2021 to implement the GCC Unified Law (System) on Combating Commercial Deception.

When it is being implemented, specific phrases will have specific meanings.

The Authority will mean the Consumer Protection Authority;

The Minister will mean the official tasked with implementing the Decree. This will be the Chairman of the Consumer Protection Authority.

Employees designated as Judicial Inspectors will mean employees of the specialist Authority and the Ministries of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, Health and other relevant departments in line with the laws and Sultani Decrees awarding these officials the designation or mission of judicial inspection for crimes stated in the Decree which relate to their employment role and responsibilities.

The Decree complements Oman Sultani Decree No. 84/2008 (the Food Security Law). Anything which contradicts or contravenes it will be repealed.

It will be published in the Official Gazette and come into force the day after it is published.

The Sultan approved Oman Sultani Decree No. 55/2021 ratifying the agreement on establishing the GCC Accreditation Centre and Annex-1 as well. It will be published in the Official Gazette and come into force on its issued date.

Finally, they approved Oman Sultani Decree No. 56/2021 ratifying the agreement between Oman and the GCC Secretariat General relating to the headquarters of the GCC Statistical Centre. The agreement was signed in Muscat in June 2021.

It will be published in the Official Gazette and come into force on its issued date.

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News developments

Dubai: New Action Plan for Emiratisation Announced

16/08/202116/08/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Gulf News (United Arab Emirates), 15 August 2021: Dubai’s Deputy Ruler has announced a plan to boost Emiratisation in the private sector is being prepared.

The plan will be implemented in 100 days.

The Emirati Human Resources Development Council has been asked to develop the action plan.

The plan will outline measures to establish a wide range of partnerships with companies, organisations and free zone entities to improve the job prospects of UAE nationals in the private sector.

It will also include strategies to work with the education sector to link learning outcomes to job market requirements. The plan will also feature career guidance programmes for students in future-oriented sectors, in alignment with country’s long-term strategies.

The Council added they will be proposing new legislation, policies and initiatives to improve the employment opportunities for Emiratis in various sectors and align their skills with labour market requirements.

It was the Council’s first meeting following the issuing of Dubai Decree No. 27/2021.

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News developments

Saudi Arabia: Artificial Lakes Cannot be Created

15/08/202115/08/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Gazette, 12 August 2021: Saudi Arabia’s Environment Water and Agriculture Ministry has announced artificial lakes cannot be created on farms.

These lakes are usually created for investment or recreational purposes.

Anyone who creates an artificial lake will be committing a violation of the water regulations.

The regulations aim to protect water resources, ensure their sustainability, rationalise their consumption and prevent future misuse.

The Ministry added they do not grant licenses to dig wells or lakes.

They went on to say they will take action against any violators.

Among other penalties, the license to use groundwater could be revoked for repeat offences.

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News developments

Egypt: Draft Labour Law Explained

15/08/202115/08/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Youm7, 12 August 2021: The Egyptian authorities have explained the provisions in the draft Labour Law.

The draft law will determine the retirement age for employees in the private sector and the situations in which the retirement age can be extended.

It states that the retirement age should be 60.

Under the draft law, the employee will receive a severance payment calculated based on half salary of the first five years and full salary for the next years of their service.

The severance payment will be calculated based on the value of the last salary received. Where the employee dies, the severance payment will be paid according to the provisions in the Social Security Law.

For full story, click here.

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News developments

Qatar: Fees Can Only be Increased with Ministry Approval

15/08/202115/08/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Gulf Times, 11 August 2021: Qatar’s Education and Higher Education Ministry has announced private school fees can only be increased with their approval.

Their Private Schools Licensing Department is responsible for monitoring tuition and other fees charged by private schools and kindergartens in the country.

Private schools and kindergartens who increase fees without Ministry approval will commit a violation.

They should submit an application with all the necessary justifications and reasons for the increase with the relevant documents.

Any increase in fees should correspond to improvements in the educational or other related services offered to students. They should also consider the need for investors to make reasonable profit to help them improve their investment in education and continue it.

The Ministry added there are various standards and conditions which apply and should be followed by schools to get approval for any fee increases.

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News developments

Abu Dhabi: New E-commerce Policy Announced

11/08/202111/08/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Gulf News (United Arab Emirates), 10 August 2021: Abu Dhabi Customs has announced it has issued a new e-commerce policy.

The policy will apply to goods imported or exported by companies for online trading, including for exports outside the UAE.

Companies will also have to register for e-commerce related transactions with the Customs Department.

It will come into force on 15 August.

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News developments

UAE Participates in Landmark Multinational Cooperation Money Laundering Case

11/08/202111/08/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Arab News, 7 August 2021: UAE law enforcement agencies have participated in a landmark multinational cooperation money laundering case.

The case involved six individuals who were being tried by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles.

They are accused of defrauding a Qatari school founder and laundering the proceeds through banks around the world.

They are accused of faked the financing of a Qatari school by playing the roles of bank officials and creating a bogus website as well as bribing a foreign official to keep the scheme going.

Under the US Penal Code, both conspiracy counts carry a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in jail. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year jail term.

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