News developments
Saudi Arabia’s Commerce Minister has announced they have approved an amendment to the bylaws of the Saudi Foreign Business Councils. Under Saudi Arabia Ministerial Decision No. 56103/1442, a system will be implemented to review the Regulations after a year. It will come into force on its issued date and has been published in the Official Gazette.
News developments
According to local newspaper reports, the Undersecretary for Oman’s Labour Ministry has announced the Omanisation rules for sub-contractors. Under the rules, Omanis will be prioritised. The sub-contracting of expatriates should stop to enable this.
News developments
Kuwait’s Health Ministry has announced they have approved regulations for performing obesity operations in the Government and private sectors. The patient must be between 18 and 50, with a BMI of 50 or less and classified under the third category or less. This is according to the American Anaesthesia Association classification.
News developments
The Dubai International Financial Centre has announced it has expanded the applicant criteria for its Prescribed Companies regime. The expanded regime is aimed at attracting companies to establish in the DIFC in a way which aligns with international best practices. The expanded Prescribed Company regime is open to all DIFC non-retail companies, along with their shareholders, Ultimate Beneficiary Owners and affiliates. It can now also be used by family businesses with a large presence in the UAE.
News developments
The local authorities in Abu Dhabi, have said all the hotels there will have to provide kosher food. The announcement was made ahead of the anticipated arrival of Israeli tourists. All Abu Dhabi hotels also have to get a kosher certificate which is a document proving the food is produced according to Jewish law and allocate an area in all kitchens to prepare food intended for Jewish tourists.
Weekly Spotlight
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.
News developments
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.
News developments
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.
News developments
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.
News developments
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.
