Kuwait Manpower Authority officials have announced the Authority is exempting expatriates from the visa transfer ban. However, the exemption will only apply if the expatriate employee initially transferred to a small company locally and then transferred their residency from a small project to the private sector. It does not apply to other expatriates.
Bahrain’s Central Bank has announced it has issued draft insurance aggregator rules. Insurance aggregators are intermediaries with an insurance broker’s license who operate an online platform, whether hosted on an Internet website or available as a smart device application which provides price comparisons and facilitates the purchase of insurance policies from several insurance licensees. By introducing insurance aggregators, customers will be able to find and choose insurance quotes from several insurance companies under a single electronic platform or mobile device application, instead of obtaining quotes individually and purchase insurance online from a single insurance company. The move is the first step towards Insuretech which is a technology-led transformation of the insurance sector. Copies of the directive are available on the Central Bank Website.
Kuwait’s Capital Market Authority has announced it is launching an awareness campaign for its qualifications examinations project for registered employment positions. The project is being launched with the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment. The project will result in the Professional Qualifications Programme which the Authority will implement by 30 September 2019.
Bahrain’s Shoura Council has approved a draft law to regulate hygiene, following Bahrain Royal Decree No. 86/2014. It will apply to waste and its transportation and disposal. It will also cover waste dumping and depositing waste in incorrect facilities. In addition, it will ban abandoning scrap vehicles on streets and leaving vehicles in public streets and squares to sell. Finally it will allow waste to only be transported by licensed companies and institutions.
Oman’s Central Bank has issued a Bank Resolution Framework which sets out the recovery and resolution regime for the Sultanate’s banking sector. It will apply to all banks who are designated as important domestic banks by the Central Bank. The Bank at its discretion may apply all or parts of the framework to any other bank licensed by it. The aim is to prepare banks for self-recovery and in the relevant circumstances allow the authorities to help them with minimal disruption to them and the wider banking sector and at the lowest possible cost.
The Governor of Qatar’s Central Bank has issued a Decision on the instructions for licensing, organising and supervising the services of supporting insurance providers, in line with Qatar Law No. 13/2012. Qatar Decision No. 7/2019 came into force on 1 April 2019. Amongst other things, they establish a code of conduct for their operations and ensure insurance providers meet their obligations under the Decision. They also cover licensing procedures and the requirements to practice as an insurance provider. Those entities affected have to comply with the Decision and the relevant authorities have to implement the Decision.
Senior Kuwaiti Government officials have confirmed there is a Parliamentary consensus on amending Kuwait Law No. 17/2018 which includes amendments to Kuwait Law No. 6/2010 (the Private Sector Labour Law). The proposed amendment states Kuwaiti nationals are entitled to full indemnities at the end of their service without employers deducting sums from their salaries to pay for the Public Authority for Social Security subscription. Indemnities will be paid in full by the current employer at the end of their service retrospectively actively from the date of Kuwait Law No. 6/2010 being implemented.
Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has launched a final consultation on the reference offer of the split Batelco entity. The consultation ends on 25 April 2019. The new wholesale-only entity (NBNetco BSC) will be formed by the separation of Batelco into two distinct entities. NBNetco will operate and deploy the single national broadband infrastructure in the Kingdom. This is how all telecom services including 5G will be provided. Service providers must therefore be granted access to the infrastructure on fair and reasonable terms.
The Chairman of Egypt’s Consumer Protection Authority has announced the Implementing Regulations to the country’s Consumer Protection Law have been published. The Implementing Regulations to Egypt Law No. 181/2018 are contained in Egypt Regulation No. 822/2019. The Regulations emphasise the importance of informing consumers about all basic data on products, which is the consumer’s right to know before purchasing. It covers obligatory provisions by sellers or service providers of an invoice. They also cover the rights of consumers to recover or replace products within 14 days and within 30 days in the event of a product defect.
Saudi Arabia’s Trade and Investment Minister has announced a new bank for Small and Medium Enterprises will be established. The Minister confirmed permission to open the bank has been issued and relevant bodies will have to cooperate with the International Bank to prepare the necessary study. He added the law for Competition and Procurement are being finalised and will empower SMEs.
