Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister has announced the Kingdom is considering introducing a carbon trading system in the country. It will be aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This kind of scheme involves a cap-and-trade system or credits which pay for or offset greenhouse gas reductions.
Qatar’s Cabinet has approved draft amendments to the Labour Law, Qatar Law No. 14/2004. If approved, labour dispute settlement committees will be established by a Ministerial Decision from the Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs Ministry.
Kuwait’s Court of Appeal has ruled a local bank could not increase the interest rate on a loan. The claim was brought by a lawyer who argued the bank breached the law when it deducted interest from her client loan before deducting the actual amount lent to her client. The lawyer argued the bank breached the Civil Law and Trade Law.
The Dubai Municipality has announced it is ready to make all future contracts digital. They will become the first Government agency to do so. It comes as the Dubai Government looks to go completely paperless. The Municipality is waiting for legal authorisation before it starts issuing the first digital contracts. It means contractors and suppliers will be able to agree deals digitally with the Municipality by securing approvals and making electronic signatures.
The Dubai International Financial Centre has announced it has launched a public consultation on proposed amendments to the 2019 Employment Law. The consultation ends on 18 November 2019. The proposed amendments relate to the Employee Workplace Savings plan. If approved, all employers based in the Centre will have to pay mandatory contributions into the scheme or into an alternative qualifying scheme. The requirements for these alternative qualifying schemes will require employers to make mandatory contributions towards employees’ end-of-service benefits and which will allow Centre employees to add their own savings as voluntary contributions. The Centre has also launched a consultation on proposed Employment Regulations which state the mandatory requirements for a qualifying scheme.
According to local newspaper reports, Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister has issued a Ministerial Decision which will allow expatriates to transfer their visit visas to work visas. Under Kuwait Ministerial Decision No. 957/2019, visit visas can be transferred to residence visas for dependents arriving on family or tourist visit visas, domestic helpers, holders of valid residence who do not exceed stay of 6 months outside Kuwait and have to enter with a visit visa, those who enter for work and start procedure to get residency but have to leave for maximum one month and visitors of ministries and public authorities with a Government visit visa. It will cost 3 Dinars to get a visa on arrival, 10 Dinars a person a year to renew residence and 10 Dinars a person a year for dependent residency fees for spouses and children.
The Acting Director of the Legal Department at the Commerce and Industry Ministry has announced Oman Sultani Decree No. 53/2019 promulgating the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Law will come into force on 1 July 2020. Under the Law, individuals and institutions who have declared bankruptcy will need to pay their creditors back. The payment will be agreed through a payment restructuring plan. Both parties will have to agree to the plan and it must be ratified by a court. The court’s judgment will have to be published in the Official Gazette and the bankrupt will have to pay it. Traders who make false bankruptcy claims will be fined between 200 and 500 Rials.
Qatar’s Cabinet has approved the abolition of the Kafala system which requires some foreign workers to obtain exit visas to leave the country and get approval before changing jobs. Those affected by the visa change include agricultural, casual, domestic and public sector workers. The abolition of no objection certificates will allow employees to change jobs, providing they comply with contractual requirements. The changes will come into effect in January 2020. The Cabinet has also adopted draft minimum wage legislation which if approved will apply to all employees regardless of their nationality.
The Kuwaiti Government is consulting on exempting the wives of GCC nationals from a Citizenship Law which is currently under consideration. If approved, the Law will allow the spouses of Kuwaitis to apply for citizenship if they have been married for 18 years. Currently, they can apply after five years. The draft law has been referred to the Interior and Defence Committee of the country’s National Assembly. The country’s Parliament has already approved the amendment to Article 8 of Kuwait Emiri Decree No. 15/1959 on citizenship which states the wives of Kuwaiti men can obtain citizenship after 18 years of marriage instead of five.
The CEO of Bahrain’s Real Estate Regulatory Authority has urged real estate valuers to apply for a license from the Authority before the 2 November 2019 deadline. The Authority was launched on 1 March 2018 and initially focused on the licensing of developers, off-plan sales developments, real estate brokers and sales agents. In late 2018, the licensing requirements and regulations were extended to property managers and owner association managers. All providers of real estate valuation services have to hold a Authority license by 2 November 2019. All licensed valuers have to attend the English-language Valuation Standards and Regulations course on 20 and 21 November and 24 and 25 November in Arabic. To register licensed valuers should email realestate@bibf.com.
