LexisNexis Middle East

Kuwait: Amendment to Buildings Charter Proposed

21/12/201919/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

A member of the Kuwaiti municipality council has submitted a proposal to add a new article to the buildings charter. If approved, public departments and private entities will have to build nurseries for the children of their staff. The aim is to ensure entities with more than 50 female employees or more than 200 employees, from both genders, have dedicated nurseries. The member added Article 25 of the Labour Law provides for establishing nurseries in these entities but has so far not been implemented.

News developments

Oman: Plastic Bags to be Banned

20/12/201919/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Oman’s Environment and Climate Affairs Ministry has proposed banning plastic bags early next year. If the proposal is approved by the Commerce and Industry Ministry next year it will be introduced within the same timeframe. It will mean companies, factories, shops and those who use single-use plastic bags will have to replace them with environmentally-friendly ones within one year of the Decision.

Weekly Spotlight

Weekly Spotlight: Social Media Law for Government Influencers in Sharjah

15/12/201912/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Crown Prince of Sharjah, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Executive Committee has issued Sharjah Executive Decree No. 39/2019 which makes it mandatory for all government departments in Sharjah to first get approval from the Sharjah Media Office prior to using services offered by social media influencers.

According to the resolution, all government and semi-government entities, independent government agencies, companies that the government contributes to or fully owns and private contracting companies affiliated to the government within the scope of the contract, must obtain the approval of the Sharjah Media Office prior to using services provided by social media influencers.

Whether the services are for promoting activities, services or products for government entities, or are paid for or not paid for, the Sharjah Media Office must issue the necessary administrative decision prior to implementing the contracts signed with social media influencers.

The decree came into the effect from 4 December 2019.

News developments

Kuwait: Transfer of Salaries for Workers Within Two Months of Work Permits Issuance

14/12/201912/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Asil Almazid, spokesperson and director of the Public Relations and Media Department in the Authority for Manpower of Kuwait, has announced Circular 26/2019 on giving business owners two months from the date of issuance of work permits to pay the salaries of the workers. Businesses should transfer the wages via bank transfers to local finance companies for their workers who have been recruited from abroad. Almazil has said the Labour Inspection Department is conducting an inspection to make sure that this deadline is being respected.

News developments

Oman: Anti-Information Technology Crime Law Under Discussion

14/12/201912/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Technology and Innovation Committee in the Council of State has discussed a study on the relevance of the Anti-Information Technology Crime Law (Oman Sultani Decree No. 12/2011) to the rapid technical developments and its social and economic impact in Oman. The discussion took place during the first annual session of the seventh term.

News developments

Saudi Arabia: Amendments to Collection of Zakat from Commercial Enterprises to be Implemented in 2020

13/12/201912/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Arabia’s The General Authority of Zakat and Tax has announced that amendments introduced on collection of Zakat from commercial enterprises will be implemented on 1 January 2020. The aim is to make Zakat collection procedures easier and clarify the items that are subject to the Zakat including in the insurance section. The amendments follow the issue of Saudi Arabia Administrative Decision No. 2216/1440 on 7/7/1440 which targets commercial enterprises of Saudis and of the Gulf Cooperation Council entities operating in the kingdom.

News developments

UAE: Terms of Loans Can be Extended for Decreased Salaries

13/12/201912/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

The UAE Central Bank has issued a circular confirming that banks can amend the deduction percentage for loan repayment if the salary has been decreased for reasons other than retirement. Banks can deduct up to 50% of the salary and extend the term of the loan, be it a personal loan or a loan for real estate. The circular has also confirmed that if the said loans exceeded the permissible terms due salary reduction, the bank or finance company cannot give the customer more credit facilities.

Weekly Spotlight

Weekly Spotlight: Bahrain Bourse Launches Consultation on Proposed Administrative Fines Framework

08/12/201911/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Bahrain’s Bourse launched a public consultation on a proposed administrative fines framework. The consultation was launched on 24 November and ended on 5 December 2019. The proposed framework is being introduced in line with the Bourse’s Listing Rules which relate to their powers to impose administrative fines on issuers in the event of non-compliance with the Listing Rules and any other applicable rules, regulations and directives.

To ensure this power is used appropriately, the Bourse is proposing establishing a framework to impose administrative fines for non-compliance with the applicable rules, regulations and directives. The fines will vary depending on the impact and frequency of the violation. They will range between 500 and 10,000 Dinars for each violation and can be up to 100,000 Dinars for cross-listed companies exceeding 30% of an issuer’s share capital for each secondary market they are listed on. All cases will be assessed and reviewed by an Issuer Violation Committee which will be established by the Bourse.

News developments

Qatar: Independent Body to Oversee Public Private Partnership Projects Should be Established

07/12/201911/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

A group of experts have called for an independent body to oversee public private partnerships in Qatar to be established. The experts made their call during a seminar on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) which was hosted by the Qatar Chamber, the Qatar International Centre for Conciliation & Arbitration and the College of Law at Qatar University. The body would serve a similar function to competition commissions in other countries.

News developments

Oman Joins Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters

07/12/201911/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Oman has signed the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters. It aims to tackle offshore tax evasion and avoidance. It provides for all forms of administrative assistance in tax matters: exchanges of information on request, spontaneous exchange, automatic exchange, tax examinations abroad, simultaneous tax examinations and assistance in tax collection. It also guarantees extensive safeguards for protecting taxpayers’ rights. The Sultanate also signed the Common Reporting Standard Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement.