KSA Archives - Page 40 of 45 - LexisNexis Middle East

Saudi Arabia: New Anti-terrorist Law Now Effective

02/02/201911/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

According to local newspaper reports, Saudi Arabia has promulgated a new law to tackle terrorism and terrorist funding. The new law which is now in effect aims to protect the Kingdom from terrorist attacks and maintain national security. It also clamps down on the use of charities and non-profit institutions as facades to cover the funding of terrorist activities. Under the Law, prosecutors will be able to request records or documents from suspicious institutions and compel charities to implement provisions of the law.

News developments

Saudi Arabia: National Labour Committee Approved

26/01/201911/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Arabia’s Labour and Social Development Minister has issued a Decision approving the establishment of a coordination committee for labour committee. It will be called the national committee for labour committees in Saudi Arabia. The chairmen of labour committees will be members of this committee which will be responsible for representing the Kingdom internationally as well as conducting the necessary studies to activate its role, introduce itself to the private sector and draft the regulatory charter for its elections and meetings systems.

News developments

Saudi Arabia: Labour Courts Issue Rulings in Absentia

21/01/201911/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Judicial sources in Saudi Arabia have confirmed the labour courts which were established a couple of months ago have issued a number of rulings in absentia against companies who don’t turn up to court hearings. The sources said these companies failed to turn up to hearings even though they have been property notified electronically. Most of the rulings issued in absentia cannot be appealed because they are related to small cases worth less than 20,000 Riyals. The source added these cases would previously have been postponed if the company didn’t attend the hearing. Cases which are subject to this procedure include requests for certificates of services, requests for documents and records related to labourers and held by an employer. They also include objections against decisions issued by residential service committees and complaints against employers and employees against decisions issued by social security institutions.

News developments

Saudi Arabia: Supervisory Health Council to be Established

12/01/201911/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council has approved an amendment to Article 16(A) of the Health Law following recommendations from the health committee. Under the amendment, a health council will be established and linked to the president of the council of ministers. The Council’s chairman will be of Minister grade and appointed by a Royal Decree. Members of the council will include a representative of the Health Ministry and representatives from health services from other relevant ministries. The aim is to boost the council’s independence and enable it to exercise its supervisory and regulatory roles.

News developments

Saudi Arabia: Online Registration Process for Employment Contracts Forthcoming

01/12/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

The General Organisation for Social Insurance and the Labour and Social Development Ministry has launched a new initiative which allows employers in the private sector to upload and update electronic version of employment contracts for their Saudi and foreign employees. It is expected the registration process will become mandatory for all employers in Saudi Arabia in the near future. The new initiative is aimed at ensuring employment contracts conform with private sector regulations, ensuring the accuracy of data recorded in agreements and reducing labour disputes between parties. It also allows employees to review their contract online. Unlike some other jurisdictions in the region, employers in Saudi Arabia are not required to use any specific employment contract template as long as the agreement does not contravene the country’s labour regulations. However, in practice, there is no proper mechanism in place for verification of contracts. The fact the initiative is launched by the GOSI may also suggest the authorities are preparing to scrutinise the area of social contributions paid by employers and which are calculated proportionally to the employee’s remuneration.

News developments

Saudi Arabia: Tax Authority Publishes English Version of General VAT Guidelines

24/11/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Zakat and Tax has published the English version of its general VAT guide, which was originally published in Arabic in October. The guide provides information to taxpayers on a wide variety of VAT obligations in the Kingdom. It covers topics such as VAT registration, charging VAT and issuing VAT invoices, deducting VAT on purchases, filing returns and interacting with the Authority on VAT matters and disputes. It also includes useful reference material, such as a tax invoice example, definitions of technical VAT terms, an illustrative VAT return form and a high-level decision tree for when VAT is expected to be applied. The guide is aimed at a broad audience and offers a good starting point for all taxpayers with respect to understanding VAT compliance obligations.

News developments

Saudi Arabia: Women Can be Arbitrators

17/11/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

The undersecretary of Saudi Arabia’s Justice Ministry and Chairman of the Appeal Court has said there is nothing which prevents women from becoming arbitrators. He was speaking during a seminar on commercial arbitration organised by Riyadh Chamber. He added mediation and arbitration should be encouraged for family disputes and said women can be commercial arbitrators but called for there to be better training of arbitrators in general. He went on to say better arbitration procedures should also be introduced to boost integrity and transparency.

News developments

Saudi Arabia: VAT Registration Deadline for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Looming

10/11/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Saudi Arabian authorities have provided a transitional concession to SMEs who exceed the mandatory threshold of 375,000 Riyals for VAT registration purposes, but make supplies of less than 1,000,000 Riyals in a 12 month period by delaying their need to register for VAT until 1 January 2019. However this extension is rapidly drawing to a close and affected SMEs now need to focus on addressing the requirement to become VAT compliant.

News developments

Saudi Arabia: Recommendation to Divide Government Projects into Small Shares

06/10/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

A Saudi-American joint report has recommended dividing Government projects into small shares to ease the process of giving tenders to small companies. The report also recommended allocating some of the procurement shares of public and private sectors to small and medium enterprises. The report was prepared by the Saudi-American Business Council on the development of small and medium enterprises in partnership with the research company Accountability. It also highlighted regulatory bodies need more indexes and indicators to measure the performance of SMEs to support their development.

News developments

Saudi Arabia: Plain Cigarette Packaging Could be Adopted

16/09/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

According to the World Trade Organisation, Saudi Arabia could follow Australia and other countries and adopt plain cigarette packaging. The Kingdom has apparently notified the Organisation. No date for the introduction was given but when it does it will become the first GCC country to do so.