News developments
Qatar’s Council of Ministers has approved amendments to the decision on reducing the number of private and public sector employees working in their workplaces. Under the amendment, up to 80% of employees, depending on their employer’s needs can return to their workplaces. The other 20% should continue working from home. The change applies from 28 July.
News developments
Qatar’s Council of Ministers has approved a draft law to amend Qatar Decision No. 70/2006 on commercial shops in residential areas. It was proposed by the country’s Trade and Industry Minister. The Council also considered a report from the committee for regulating the ownership of properties by non-Qatari nationals. The committee is responsible for suggesting areas where non-Qatari nationals can own property and the rules and conditions for their ownership.
News developments
The Assistant Undersecretary of Administrative Development Affairs at Qatar’s Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs Ministry has announced a new Qatarisation platform is going to be launched. It will allow Qataris looking for jobs to identify available jobs. It will also allow private companies to place vacant and required jobs. It is aimed at implementing a draft decision to raise the proportion of Qataris to 60% in State-owned companies or which the State contributes to as well as other entities subject to the Retirement and Pension Law.
News developments
Qatar’s Cabinet has approved a draft Ministerial Decision to increase the minimum percentage of Qataris in the private sector to 60%. It will apply to Qataris working in State-owned companies or its subsidiaries or other entities who are subject to the Retirement and Pension Law. It will also increase the percentage of Qataris in human resources departments to 80% in those entities. Children of Qatari women will be treated as Qataris. It was proposed by the Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs Minister. It is aimed at implementing Qatar Law No. 14/2004 (the Labour Law).
News developments
Qatar’s Interior Ministry has announced a relaxation of the requirement to register their national address for nationals and residents. The relaxation means nationals and residents who are abroad for education or treatment reasons and cannot return to the country because of the anti-Coronavirus measures being implemented worldwide. It means they will not be fined for submitting their national address details late. However, they will have to provide a certificate verifying this. Those who do not fall into this group will have to submit their national address details by 26 July.
News developments
Qatar’s Communications Regulatory Authority has announced it has issued a Class License for Wireless Home Area Networks. The license was issued in line with Chapter 3 of Qatar Decree-Law No. 34/2006 (the Telecommunications Law as amended). It covers anyone in this category and they do not have to request this license. This Class License relates to wireless networks which facilitate communication between groups of devices and equipment in or near homes. Among other things, the class license covers clock devices, speakers and home theatre systems. It also covers lighting control systems, doorbell control systems, security cameras and monitoring systems. In addition, it covers window and window blinds systems, cooling, air conditioning and water heating systems in homes, kitchen appliances, metre reading systems.
News developments
Qatar’s Emir has approved a Cabinet Decision establishing a real estate development committee. Under Qatar Cabinet Decision No. 10/2020, the committee will be chaired by the Municipality and Environment Minister. A representative from the Interior, Finance, Justice, Municipality and Environment, Commerce & Industry, Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs Ministries, Qatar Central Bank, Qatar Financial Markets Authority and Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry will be members. It comes into force on its issued date and will be published in the Official Gazette.
News developments
Islamic Banks are expected to activate a service for electronic cheques in the near future in Qatar. The service is a smart banking service which would contribute to reducing and facilitating financial transactions. The service would also reduce the time needed to execute and clear cheques which have been traded in the market especially rent cheques and some of the other trade transactions where the value is high which renders using cheques necessary. The electronic cheque would be the equivalent of paper cheques.
News developments
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
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.
