Benjamin Filaferro, Author at LexisNexis Middle East

Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s Human Resources and Social Development Ministry has announced Labour Law amendments have been approved

15/01/202115/01/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Arabia’s Human Resources and Social Development Ministry has announced Labour Law amendments have been approved. Under the changes, Saudi employees should make up at least 75% of the total workforce. If there are not enough competent employees to achieve these numbers because of a lack of relevant candidates with the required technical or academic qualifications or if it was not possible to hire nationals for these jobs, the Minister will be able reduce the required proportion. Other amendments to the Labour Law will also require every employer who has 25 or more employees to ensure 4% of their workforce are disabled people providing the nature of their work allows this. There have also been changes to the rules on advertisements for new and existing jobs. The Ministry has launched a consultation on the proposed amendments.
The Ministry has also announced it has suspended the application of Article 41 of the Implementing Regulations to the Labour Law. It was issued by Saudi Arabia Ministerial Decision No. 70273/1440. It was introduced to help businesses manage the adverse effects of Coronavirus. It enabled employers to deal with their employees’ wages including having an option to reduce them temporarily and reduce their number of working hours.

News developments

UAE: Penalties for Taking Another’s Photo Without Consent Confirmed

09/01/202109/01/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

The UAE’s Public Prosecution has confirmed the penalties for those who take photos of others without their consent. Under Article 21 of Federal Decree Law No. 5/2012 privacy may be invaded through interception, recording, eavesdropping, transferring, transmitting or disclosing conversations or communications, or audio or visual materials. They will be fined between 250,000 and 500,000 AED and jailed for up to one year. Anyone who uses a computer network or any other technology to expose a person and violate their privacy will be jailed for at least six months and/or fined between 150,000 and 500,000 AED. This also covers taking photos of others without their consent or creating, transferring, disclosing, copying or saving their photos.

News developments

Oman: Expatriate Exit Scheme Extended

09/01/202109/01/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Oman’s Labour Ministry has announced the expatriate exit scheme has been extended. Under the scheme, employers of expatriate employees who want to leave Oman permanently will be exempt from all fees and fines. The scheme has been extended to 31 March following directives from the Sultanate’s Supreme Anti-Coronavirus Committee.

News developments

Kuwait: Regulations for charities licenses

09/01/202109/01/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Kuwait’s Council of Ministers has asked the Social Affairs Ministry to make all the necessary arrangements to implement the recommendation of the legal affairs committee regarding the conditions and rules for regulating the licensing of charities. The aim is to make sure legal requirements are observed and the monies given to these charities are not used in money laundering and terrorism funding. The committee has also recommended charities be prevented from taking a share of the donations.

News developments

Bahrain: Commercial Companies Law Amendments Approved

09/01/202109/01/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Bahrain’s Parliament has approved a recommendation from the Financial and Economic Committee on amendments to the Commercial Companies Law. The aim is to introduce more investment choices and remove investment obstacles. A Bahraini MP has confirmed the importance of the law but said they hoped it comes in the form of a draft law to make it possible to amend some of its paragraphs which the chamber had some reservations on.

News developments

Abu Dhabi: Judicial Department Launches Project to Certify Documents Digitally

09/01/202109/01/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Abu Dhabi’s Judicial Department has announced it has launched a digital authentication project. It will allow documents issued by the Department’s systems to be approved in an integrated digital way which is compatible with the UAE PASS digital identity system to authenticate documents. Digital authentication will be applied to notary and authentication transactions, as part of the completion of the digital transformation plan, in line with Government directions to keep up with technological development using the latest technologies and the highest standards of information security.

Weekly Spotlight

Qatar: Saudi Arabia to Reopen Borders

09/01/202109/01/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

According to reports by the Kuwaiti state news agency Saudi Arabia is to reopen its land and sea border with Qatar.
The borders have been shut since 2017. The move is seen as the first step to ending the diplomatic crisis between the two countries. According to several reports, Qatar will, in return, drop its lawsuits against Saudi and its allies, as part of a broader agreement to defuse tensions, which is due to be signed on 5 January 2021. The border with Saudi is Qatar’s only land border.
Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain have also been part of the blockade. Kuwait has been mediating between Qatar and the four states. The change allows the Qatari leader to attend the GCC summit which is being held in Saudi.
According to reports in Arab News Saudi will also be reopening its airspace to Qatar. Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE have also agreed to fully restore ties with Qatar.
They signed the Al Ula Declaration with Qatar during the 41st summit of GCC leaders.
They have committed to fully restoring all diplomatic ties, but it is unclear what this means in practice and how long the process will take.

News developments

UAE: Arabtec Formally Files Insolvent Liquidation Application

18/12/202018/12/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Arabtec has formally filed an insolvency liquidation application following the approval of the proposal by their General Assembly. The application covers Arabtec Construction LLC, Arabtec Constructions LLC, Austrian Arabian Readymix Concrete Co LLC and Arabtec Precast LLC also be placed into insolvent liquidation. No applications involving the company’s other subsidiaries have been made. Until an insolvency trustee is appointed, the Company will continue engaging with key stakeholders to explore options to preserve value and where possible avoid these subsidiaries needing to be placed into a formal insolvency process. It follows two months of consultations with all of the company’ relevant stakeholders. Their liabilities are calculated at 18 billion AED.

News developments

Saudi Arabia: New Agencies to Monitor Resources and Development in Mining Sector to be Established

18/12/202018/12/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Arabia’s Industry and Mineral Resources Minister has agreed to restructure the mining sector by creating three new agencies. They will be led by the Deputy Minister for Mining Affairs. They are the Ministry’s Agency for Mineral Resources, the Ministry’s Agency for Mining Control and Compliance and the Ministry’s Agency for Mining Development. The aim is to provide faster and better services to investors in the mining sector.

News developments

Qatar: Qatar Decree-Law No. 21/2020 On Private Associations and Institutions

18/12/202018/12/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Qatar’s Shoura Council has approved the Private Associations and Institutions Decree-Law (Qatar Decree-Law No. 21/2020). They approved it after discussing a report from the Public Services and Utilities Committee on it. It defines an association as a group which is composed of several natural or legal persons who participate together to carry out a social, cultural, scientific, educational, or professional activity, without seeking a profit. It also defines the professional association as an association consisting of the owners of one profession regulated by law. In addition, it defines a private enterprise as a private establishment set up by one or more natural or legal persons to achieve one or more charitable or public or private benefit purposes without looking to make a profit. Finally, it specifies the conditions for establishing an association, its founding contract requirements, its articles of association, how to register it, its objectives, the license period and aspects related to its management, finances and control of its business. They have referred it to the Government to consider.