Weekly Spotlight: Foreign Workers in Qatar will No Longer Require an Exit Permit to Leave the Country

This week the spotlight is on legal developments in Qatar, where the country has announced they will no longer require exit permits for expatriates following an amendment to Article 7 of Qatar Law No 21/2015 by Qatar Law No. 13/2018.

Expatriates who are working in the country under the Labour Law will have the right to temporary or final exit from the country during the validity of their employment contract. Employers may submit a request to the Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs Ministry with the names of employees who would need a no objection certificate before leaving, with a justification based on the nature of their work. The number of workers under these restrictions will not exceed 5% of the company’s workforce.

In cases of expatriates being prevented from leaving the country for any reason, the expatriate will have the right to resort to the expatriate exit complaints committee. Its terms of reference and working procedures are also set out. The committee will decide on the grievance within three working days. For expatriates not subject to the Labour Law, the regulations and procedures for their departure from the country will be determined by the relevant Ministerial Decision.

New Consultation Launched by the QFC Regulatory Authority to Amend General Rules

This week the spotlight is on regulatory developments in the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), where the QFC Regulatory Authority has launched a consultation on proposals to introduce requirements for rule-based ongoing monitoring of close links and annual reporting of these links for QFC authorised firms. The consultation ends on 9 May 2018. These proposals are relevant to all QFC authorised firms and if approved would apply from July 2018.

The Regulatory Authority is proposing to amend the General Rules to include ongoing requirements relating to an authorised firm’s close links, including introducing systems and control requirements for the ongoing monitoring of changes to an authorised firm’s close links. They are also proposing requirements for authorised firms to submit an annual report to the Regulatory Authority about its close links (to be submitted with the annual controllers report). In addition they are suggesting a new definition for close links in Chapter 8 of the General Rules which would expand monitoring and reporting requirements to links between two or more persons who are linked through a holding or subsidiary company structure or through ownership or control of 10% or more of their voting rights or shares. Finally they are proposing clarifying the application of various Parts of Chapter 8 of the General Rules and consequential changes to the Interpretation and Application Rules 2005.

Weekly Spotlight: draft law to regulate the investment of non-Qatari capital in Qatar

This week the spotlight is on legal and regulatory developments in Qatar, where the country’s Advisory Council has discussed a draft law to regulate the investment of non-Qatari capital in the country. The Council referred the draft law to the Finance and Economic Affairs Committee for further consideration and feedback. The Council also reviewed a request for a discussion on food security.

Elsewhere, the Advisory Council has reviewed several draft laws including a draft law on the organisation of business events. The Council also considered draft laws on establishing a national tourism council and a draft law to regulate tourism. The Council submitted its recommendations to the Advisory Council.

Qatar: Cabinet has approved a draft industrial zones law

This week the spotlight is on legal and regulatory developments in Qatar, where the country’s Cabinet has approved a draft industrial zones law and referred it to the Advisory Council for further consideration. It defines industrial zones as areas designated for industrial purposes in line with its provisions, including lands, installations and facilities erected on it. Under the law, the establishment of industrial zones will be decided by a Cabinet Decision following a recommendation from the Energy and Industry Minister and the relevant authorities in the country. All natural resources which appear or lie in the industrial zone territory will be State property and tenants will be adequately compensated for the loss of full or partial use of these lands. No industrial establishment will be able to be founded in the industrial zones without authorisation from relevant authorities in the State and after Energy and Industry Ministry approval.

The Cabinet also approved a draft law to protect national products and tackle any practices which may harm them internationally but in line with World Trade Organisation agreements. ‘Harmful practices’ are defined as ‘dumping, dedicated subsidy and increase in imports’. ‘Dumping’ is defined as ‘exporting a product to the country at a price below the normal value of its counterpart in the exporting country’. A committee to enforce the law will be established at the Economy and Commerce Ministry. Its members will have experience in WTO agreements and Ministry representatives and relevant entities. It will have the power to receive reports on violations of the law and review them as well as carry out the necessary investigations. It will also be able to propose appropriate measures and practices to be taken regarding complaints referred to it and submit relevant proposals to the Minister. In addition, they will be able to propose preventive measures to protect national products in line with the law. Based on Committee recommendations the Minister will take appropriate measures to enforce the law.