LexisNexis Middle East

Qatar: National Employment Platform Launched

23/08/202023/08/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Qatar’s Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs Ministry has announced the launch of the National Employment Platform or Kawader. It displays all available Government and private sector jobs in Qatar. From 24 August 2020, the platform will be available for jobseekers to enter, register and create CVs, and from September, jobseekers will be able to view jobs and choose the right job based on their qualifications and experience. Registration on the platform will be available to male and female citizens who do not hold jobs first to enable them to look and apply for jobs as well as enabling children of Qatari women to look and apply for private sector jobs.

News developments

Kuwait: Bankruptcy Law Approved

23/08/202023/08/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Kuwait’s National Assembly has approved a bankruptcy law which will help troubled companies, give them legal protections and provide them with various options before they declare bankruptcy. It specifies two main ways out of trouble for a defaulting company or merchant. The first is a preventive settlement with the agreement of the creditor and debtor. The second is the creation of a plan for restructuring before declaring bankruptcy and even where bankruptcy is declared, only the corrupt bankrupt will be punished. Under the existing law, which is 40 years old, stopping the payment of debt means declaring bankruptcy, which leads to the bankrupt party being jailed, having a travel ban imposed on them and being stripped of their political rights.

News developments

Egypt: Amendments to Intellectual Property Law Approved

23/08/202023/08/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Egypt’s House of Representatives has approved amendments to the country’s Intellectual Property Law (Egypt Law No. 82/2002). It follows the proposed amendments being referred to a joint Parliamentary Committee on 17 June. The amendments state those under 21 are allowed to record their actions on the works, performances, sound and radio recordings subject to the Law. The relevant registration fee will be 100 Egyptian Pounds instead of 1,000 Pounds. People with special needs and students will be exempt from these fees. The aim is to provide more support to young creators and encourage them to innovate in culture and the arts. The Government are also committed to care for disabled people. The Law will be published in the Official Gazette and will come into force one month after it is published.

News developments

Dubai: International Financial Centre Issues Common Reporting Standard Law Amendments

23/08/202023/08/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Dubai’s Ruler has issued amendments to the Dubai International Financial Centre’s Common Reporting Standard Law (DIFC Law No. 2/2018). The amendments were contained in the Common Reporting Standard Law Amendment Law, DIFC Law No. 6/2020. They came into force on 16 August 2020. The Board of Directors of the DIFC Authority also issued new Common Reporting Standard Regulations which came into force on 30 July 2020. The aim of the amendments is to ensure the Common Reporting Standard issued by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development is properly adopted in the DIFC and is applied consistently across the UAE. The amendments also introduce offences and penalties for providing false self-certifications and offences and penalties for financial institutions failing to obtain valid self-certifications. They also formally adopt the explanatory material issued and published by the OECD for the purpose of assisting with the interpretation of the Common Reporting Standards and there are other miscellaneous enhancements.

News developments

Kuwait: Draft Bankruptcy Law Being Referred to Parliament

17/08/202017/08/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Kuwaiti Government has referred a draft bankruptcy law to Parliament to consider. The aim is to improve the business environment in the country, address bankruptcy cases and preserve commercial companies. It also aims to maximise the returns of creditors, collect as much money for them as possible and create a legal system which attracts local and foreign investment. In addition, it aims to keep commercial companies operating and provide systems and mechanisms to enable this. This includes allowing preventive settlement and restructuring and protecting the owners of small and medium enterprises; by reducing the periods stipulated by the law. Finally, it will abolish the role of expert management in the bankruptcy process and replace it with a bankruptcy committee. Those on the committee will have financial expertise and be responsible for supervising the procedures for restructuring, bankruptcy and reconciliation regarding debts.

News developments

Egypt: Decision to Establish a Supreme Committee to Examine Airports Storage Areas

17/08/202017/08/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Egypt’s Civil Aviation Minister has issued a Decision to establish a supreme committee including representatives from the relevant departments. It will be chaired by the Security Sector Chairman in the Ministry. They will examine and compile an inventory of shipments, storage and containers in the goods village and storage areas in Cairo airport and all airports. The aim is to take all of the necessary measures against dangerous materials.

News developments

UAE: Services and Purchases Made on Online Shopping Sites Are Now Subject to 5% VAT

17/08/202017/08/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

The UAE’s Federal Tax Authority has confirmed all services and purchases made on online shopping sites are subject to 5% VAT. The purchases will have to be made in line with special conditions and controls which govern the tax treatment applicable to those supplies. The tax is imposed on the actual use of these services. Many of the general tax rules apply to e-commerce transactions in line with the existing rules.

News developments

Oman: Employment Rules Clarified

17/08/202017/08/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Oman’s Public Prosecution has clarified the employment rules. They clarified expatriate employees who leave an employer to work for another will be jailed for one month and fined 1,000 Rials. The penalties will be doubled for multiple violators. Those who work without a permit from the relevant authorities by an expatriate or work for another employer apart from their licensed employer will also be jailed for a month and fined 800 Rials. They will also be deported and refused entry to the Sultanate.

News developments

Bahrain: Reorganisation and Bankruptcy Law Proposed

17/08/202017/08/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Bahrain’s Cabinet has proposed amendments to the Kingdom’s Reorganisation and Bankruptcy Law. The proposed amendments are contained in a draft law which has been submitted to the Council of Representatives to consider. If approved, it will amend Bahrain Law No. 22/2018.

Weekly Spotlight

Qatar: Labour Ministry Launches Online Work Permit Service

17/08/202017/08/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Qatar’s Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs Ministry has announced it is going to launch two new services, including a work permit service on Sunday. The work permit service will be available to those who are on the residency of their relatives or who are changing profession. This will benefits residents who want to issue a new work permit or renew, cancel or get a replacement for one. It is part of the Ministry’s efforts to provide more services online to improve processing times and allow services to be provided remotely.

It will also benefit employees who are not directly recruited by employers and want to contract with it for regular and main professions with supporting documents attached, particularly if sub-professions in line with the terms and conditions. Those applying to change professions or job titles will have to provide their resident ID card. It can also be provided by the relevant party or the authorised signatory providing the documents required are attached.

The Ministry has prepared an online directory which the relevant person or employer can refer to via the website or through the Ministry’s social media platforms to learn about service requirements, terms, conditions and procedures.