LexisNexis Middle East

UAE: Amendments to the Rules on Transfer of Employees, Salary Payments and Recruitment

10/04/202014/04/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Following the publication last week of Ministerial Decision No. 279/2020 on employment of non-citizen employees in the private sector during the COVID-19 crisis which changed rules on transfer of employees, salary payments and recruitment, the UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has published an addendum to the Decision. This addendum was referred to in Article 5 of Ministerial Decision No. 279/2020. Article 5 says companies looking to reduce the wages of a non-citizen employee temporarily during the relevant period have to conclude a ‘temporary additional appendix’ to the labour contract between the two parties, provided it expires with the expiration of the term of the contract or the period of validity of this Decision, whichever is earlier. It goes on to say the appendix can be renewed with the approval of both parties and two copies must be prepared. Both the employer and employee should keep a copy. The employer will have to submit it to the Human Resources and Emiratisation Ministry when asked to do so.

News developments

Saudi Arabia: Implementing Regulations of Saudi Arabia Cabinet Decision No. 649/1440 Amended

10/04/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Arabia’s Finance Minister has announced they have amended the Implementing Regulations of Saudi Arabia Cabinet Decision No. 649/1440. The amendments include is a clause on extraordinary circumstances which include pandemics like Coronavirus. It will ease the procurement process during times like this. They will come into force on 24 April 2020. The amendments include allowing the committee for opening the bids to open the financial bids and allow for confiscating a guarantee and revoking a contract if the contractor left before they signed the contract and following issuing a notice to them. Previously the charter only allowed for cancelling the award decision. Under the amendments, prior qualification procedures can be done for work over 50 million Riyals in value. Previously the charter permitted performing post qualification procedures if a prior one had not been completed.

Weekly Spotlight

Weekly Spotlight: LexisNexis MENA Launches a COVID-19 News Blog

05/04/202003/04/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

We have launched a public COVID-19 News Blog, https://www.c19lexismena.com/ which provides free access to the latest legal and tax updates related to COVID-19 in the MENA region in both English and French. It has been produced by Lexis® Middle East and Lexis® Maroc.

News developments

Kuwait: Central Bank Exempts Banks from First Quarter’s Disclosures

04/04/202003/04/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Kuwaiti Central Bank has issued a circular to banks requesting them not to submit their financial data for the first quarter. This circular adds banks to the list of companies that have been exempt from submitting their financial data for the first quarter and postpones it to the second quarter. The Central Bank said that all banks, except the Industrial Bank, will be able to provide their data pursuant to the provisions of Article 82 of Kuwait Law No. 32/1968 on e cash, the central bank of Kuwait, and the regulation of the banking profession and its amendments.

News developments

Bahrain: Amendments to the Commercial Companies Law Approved

04/04/202003/04/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Bahrain’s King has approved amendments to the country’s Commercial Companies Law. Under Bahrain Law No. 6/2020, Article 284(A) of Bahrain Decree-Law No. 21/2001 will be amended to read as follows ‘Each partner shall have the right to attend the meetings of the general assembly either in person or by his proxy, provided that the proxy shall not be from among the members of the control board, the company’s manager or among the company’s employees. The special proxy shall be in writing and prepared by the company for this purpose. Each partner shall have a number of votes equal to the shares he owns in the company’. The Prime Minister and the Ministers will implement the law. It will come into force the day after it is published in the Official Gazette.

News developments

Saudi Arabia: Electronic Judicial Auctioning Platform to be Launched

03/04/202003/04/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Dr Walid Alsamaani, the Justice Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, has issued directives to launch a platform for electronic auctioning which will enables customers to participate in judicial auctions without the need to attend them in person. The platform will be rolled out in Riyadh first then will be expanded to cover i other cities in the kingdom. The platform will enable courts to manage the liquidation of fixed and transferrable assets and offer them for sale electronically. Customers will be to participate in these auction directly which support access to equal opportunities.

News developments

Qatar: Public Consultation on Cloud Policy Launched

03/04/202003/04/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Qatar’s Communications Regulatory Authority has announced it has launched a public consultation on a draft Cloud Policy. The consultation ends on 23 April 2020. The Cloud Policy has been developed as part of the Authority’s 2020-2024 Strategy and in line with the National Vision 2030 and Qatar National Second Development Strategy 2018-2022. The Policy will provide a regulatory framework for Cloud Computing in the country. It will apply to Government entities. Comments should be sent to mbellavite@cra.gov.qa with Consultation on Cloud Policy Statement as the subject.

News developments

Bahrain: GCC National Real Estate Ownership Law Amendment Approved

03/04/202030/04/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Bahrain’s Cabinet has approved an amendment to the GCC National Real Estate Ownership Law. Bahrain Decree-Law No. 40/1999 regulates the buying and selling of real estate and land in the Kingdom. Under the amendment, GCC owners may dispose of their property through a will or inheritance, providing it has been approved by the Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister and in the regions specified by the High Urban Planning Committee. It has now been referred to the Council of Representatives to consider.

News developments

Qatar: Customs Cancels Fees on Certain Products

31/03/202031/03/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Implementing guidelines issued by the Emir of Qatar on countering the spread of the COVID-19 including the decision to cancel customs fees, the Qatari Customs Department has cancelled fees on certain products. Customs fees on food and medicine will be cancelled for six months. The list of exempt items includes 905 items such as meat, dairy, fish, oils, juices, facial masks, sanitizers, soap products, detergents, wipes, and other products.

News developments

Kuwait: Medicines Containing Anti-malarial Drug Chloroquine Withdrawn from Pharmacies

31/03/202031/03/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Kuwaiti Health Ministry has decided to withdraw all medicines containing the anti-malarial drug Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine from private pharmacies and limit them to hospitals and health centres according to the state news agency. According to Undersecretary of Health for Drug and Food Control Affairs the decision has been made to tighten control over the distribution of these medicines and to prevent their misuse or monopoly. Plaquenil which is the brand name for hydroxychloroquine has recently been mentioned in the media as a possible treatment for COVID-19. However, doctors have said it can cause serious side effects or there is a risk of overdose without proper medical guidance.