Newsletter Archives - Page 188 of 250 - LexisNexis Middle East

Qatar: Conditions for Changing Jobs Without No-Objection Certificate Announced

14/09/202014/09/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Qatar’s Administrative Development, Labour, and Social Affairs Ministry has announced the conditions for employees looking to change jobs without having to have a no-objection certificate.
The employee has to notify employers through the Ministry’s electronic notification system. They will have to serve notice of at least a month. If the employee has been in the job for two years or less two-months’ notice will have to be given.
When they submit their notification, they have to provide the Ministry’s change-of-employer form ,a copy of the contract signed with the former employer, authenticated by the Ministry or employment offer if a copy of the contract cannot be provided. They will also have to submit the new employer’s job offer in Arabic.
The employee and new employer will then receive an SMS from the Ministry confirming the change of employment.
The new employer should initiate the electronic employment contract on the Ministry’s Digital Authentication System and print out the employment contract and discuss and sign it with the employee.
A signed version of the new employment contract should be uploaded on the Ministry’s system and the authentication fee of 60 Riyals will have to be paid.
When the contract is authenticated, the new employer should submit a request for a new QID to the Interior Ministry.
Once these procedures are completed, the employee will be able to start their new job. The employee should receive their new Qatari ID card (QID) and health card from the new employer.
Where an employee wants to change jobs during their probation period, the current employer has to be given at least one month’s notice. The new employer has to compensate the current employer a portion of recruitment fees and one-way air ticket at the amount agreed to by the current and new employers. However, this cannot exceed two months of the employee’s current basic wage. Authentication System and print out the employment contract and discuss and sign it with the employee.
A signed version of the new employment contract should be uploaded on the Ministry’s system and the authentication fee of 60 Riyals will have to be paid.
When the contract is authenticated, the new employer should submit a request for a new QID to the Interior Ministry.
Once these procedures are completed, the employee will be able to start their new job. The employee should receive their new Qatari ID card (QID) and health card from the new employer.
Where an employee wants to change jobs during their probation period, the current employer has to be given at least one month’s notice. The new employer has to compensate the current employer a portion of recruitment fees and one-way air ticket at the amount agreed to by the current and new employers. However, this cannot exceed two months of the employee’s current basic wage.

Kuwait: Numbers of Employees Cannot be Increased

05/09/202004/09/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

According to local newspaper reports in Kuwait, the numbers of employees cannot be increased when the country’s curfew is partially lifted on 30 August. Only those who are already working in Ministry and Government agency premises will be allowed to carry on working there. Everyone else should carry on working remotely.

Qatar: Qatar’s Emir has issued Qatar Decree-Law No. 19/2020 and also Qatar Decree-Law No. 18/2020

05/09/202004/09/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Qatar’s Emir has issued Qatar Decree-Law No. 19/2020 amending Qatar Law No. 21/2015 on the entry, exit and residency of expatriates in the country. The Emir also issued Qatar Decree-Law No. 18/2020 amending Qatar Law No. 14/2004 (the country’s Labour Law). Under the amendment, it will be easier for employees to transfer from one employer to another without the consent of their employer being given first. It is hoped it will increase competition and allow employees to change employer. The Decree-Laws will be published in the Official Gazette and will come into force the day after they are published.

Saudi Arabia: The Board of Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority made an announcement on foreign investment

04/09/202004/09/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Board of Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority has announced foreigners can directly invest in listed and unlisted debt instruments. The decision has been issued in line with the Authority’s plan to develop the financial market through the Financial Leadership Programme. It is also part of the Financial Sector Development Programme, which is one of the main programmes to meet the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. Under the Decision, all foreign natural and legal persons can directly invest in debt instruments. Non-resident foreigners cannot invest in the market as a direct investor in listed debt instruments and as a qualified foreign investor or final beneficiary in a swap agreement at the same time. A foreign person who invests directly in debt instruments cannot convert them into shares listed in the main market unless they are one of the categories of investors who are allowed to invest directly in shares listed on the main market, or becomes a final beneficiary in a swap agreement according to the provisions of the Authority’s instructions regarding swap agreements.

Oman: Joint Panel Report on Draft VAT Law Discussed

04/09/202004/09/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Oman’s Shoura Council has discussed a Joint Panel report on the draft VAT Law. Their discussion followed the referral of the draft law to it by the State Council and associated discrepancies. The Economic and Financial Committee of the Shoura Council had previously proposed VAT be applied only if economic growth of at least 3% was achieved. They had also proposed social security families and those with limited or low incomes be potentially exempt. The Shoura Council sent the draft law back to the State Council to finalise. The VAT Law is expected to come into force in the first half of next year and follows the introduction of excise tax in the Sultanate.

UAE: Abu Dhabi Digital Supplier Portal Launched

04/09/202004/09/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Abu Dhabi’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry has announced it has launched a Digital Supplier Portal. It will allow quick access to a package of smart services, which have been especially designed to meet the needs and requirements of suppliers, including supplier registration, purchase orders, bids offered and contracts and invoices. Suppliers will be able to access a package of related smart services and learn about the latest related developments easily.

UAE: Federal Law No. 8/1980 Concerning The Regulation Of Labour Relation

04/09/202004/09/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

The UAE’s President has approved amendments to the country’s Labour Law (Federal Law No. 8/1980).
Under the amendments, private sector employees will be able to get paid parental leave of up to five days to care for their children. Mothers and fathers will be able to get the leave from when the child is born to when they are six months’ old.
It is the first time this type of leave has been given to male private sector employees in the region. Previously, companies could choose to give paid parental leave to fathers. Mothers will be given an extra five days of paid leave as well.
Women working in the private sector can get 45 day’s maternity leave on full pay, provided they have served continuously for at least a year. At the end of the maternity leave, the new mum can extend their leave without pay for up to 10 days. Maternity leave is paid with half pay if a year of service has not been completed.
There is uncertainty over whether or not Government employees can benefit in the same way. Male public sector employees currently get three days leave following the birth of a child. Women working in the country’s public sector get 90 day’s paid leave. Depending on the Emirate, more time in unpaid leave is typically given. For the first 18 months after birth, women are given two paid rest intervals a day. However, more than 30 minutes cannot be spent nursing the baby.
It is the latest move by the UAE authorities to keep female employees. In 2018, a law ensuring women were paid an equal wage to their male colleagues was approved by the country’s Cabinet.

UAE: Residency and Foreigners Affairs Clarifies Status of Those Who Lost Their Jobs

31/08/202031/08/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Director of the General Administration of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai has confirmed the Humanitarian Cases Department will facilitate the return of people who have lost their jobs to their home countries following the expiry of their residence. Even though their residency expired they had to remain in the UAE because of Coronavirus. They will be allowed to stay until their company reemploys them or they get a new job. Those who have had to pay fines because of this will be dealt with separately.

Saudi Arabia: Centre for Commercial Arbitration Signs Cooperation Agreement with British Royal Legal Surveyors

31/08/202031/08/2020
by Nawell Bel Hhaddou

Saudi Arabia’s Centre for Commercial Arbitration has signed a cooperation agreement with the British Royal Society of Legal Surveyors. The agreement is aimed at encouraging the use of alternatives to settling disputes, particularly mediation in the contracting sector. It is also aimed at encouraging and enhancing growth and boosting confidence and investment in the contracting and real estate sector in the Kingdom. The Centre added the agreement is aimed at establishing a long-term cooperation relationship to encourage the exchange of professional knowledge and professional development of dispute settlement and avoid contracting sector disputes.

Qatar: Quality Mark Launched

31/08/202031/08/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Interior Minister has announced the launch of the Qatar Quality Mark. It is aimed at promoting national products and making them more competitive regionally and globally. It is also aimed at supporting development plans and enhancing consumer protection. The first Qatar Quality Mark was given Al Qataria for Production of Reinforcing Steel. They were the first entity to meet the criteria set by the Qatar General Organisation for Standards and Metrology to get the mark. They were one of several organisations to apply. The Qatar Quality Mark is a badge which is given by the Qatar General Organisation for Standards and Metrology and is used to advertise the licensed commodity during the two years the license is valid for. It provides evidence the good or goods have met the approved national standards and has been examined and tested by an internationally recognised certified laboratory. The badge is difficult to remove or be obscured.