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Middle East Edition
6th May 2021
 
THE HOT STORY
Remote working can transform disabled people’s job prospects
A report from PwC Middle East urges organisations in the region to capitalise on the growing popularity of remote working, and transform the employment prospects of people with disabilities. The firm’s Remote-Ability report identifies barriers to the effective participation of disabled people and offers suggestions to support their inclusion in the local labour market. The most recent data indicate that the share of people with disabilities across GCC countries ranges from 4.37% of the population in Saudi Arabia to between 1% and 3% of the population in other member states. Randa Bahsoun, Partner at PwC Middle East, said: “Data drives every forward-thinking diversity strategy. We need to understand where we are as a region before taking the next steps. GCC countries are well placed to leverage technology in order to transform their labour market while increasing access for [people with disabilities] and acting as models of best practice for other governments. For this approach to be successful, GCC leaders, policymakers, educators and stakeholders from the public, private and non-profit sectors should collaborate to institutionalise an inclusive ecosystem for people with disabilities, where they can be active and productive whilst ensuring their voices are heard along the way.”
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HIRING
Bahrain lawmakers to review new recruitment rules
Lawmakers in Bahrain are to review new rules that force local employers to check a list of jobseekers at the Labour and Social Development Ministry and employ available Bahraini citizens. Employers who are found to be in violation of the new rule could be fined between BD5,000 and BD20,000 per offence under amendments to the 2012 Private Sector Employment Law. But the government claims that the amendments were unconstitutional. “Contracts are signed between an employer and an employee on mutually agreed terms, and we can’t interfere,” said the government in a written explanation. “It would be unconstitutional to, say, impose penalties on an employer’s choice of employee; it will be clearly violating their freedom. If we insist on Bahrainis first, then foreign investors may opt to go elsewhere. It should be left to them to opt for Bahrainis as their first and best choice by assessing their capabilities and qualifications.”
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WORKFORCE
Saudi expats want second passports
New data from Dubai-headquartered immigration firm Citizenship Invest (CI) suggests Saudi expats are increasingly keen to obtain second passports. Veronica Cotdemiey, the firm’s chief executive, said that in the second half of last year, such interest increased by almost half (46%). According to CI, Libyan expats in Saudi Arabia were the largest group seeking second citizenship, followed by Syrians, Indians, Iraqis, Lebanese, Yemenis and Egyptians. Ms Cotdemiey posits that the pandemic has given many people the chance to reflect on “essential issues” and look to move themselves and their families to more secure countries. “People have realized that they strongly need a plan B, regardless of whether or not they have solid jobs or businesses, as this goes beyond financial security,” she said. “The power of having a strong passport in times of crisis is the ultimate insurance policy.”
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Get ready for the new perk culture
The FT considers the coming post-pandemic perk culture, centred on concerns around health, financial stability and flexibility, and transforming how “benefits” are defined and precipitating an overhaul of corporate practices.
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LEGAL
Qatar to launch unified platform for labour complaints and disputes
Qatar is to launch a unified platform for labour complaints and disputes at the end of May. The move by the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs (MADLSA) will enable Qatari and non-Qatari workers in the private sector to file claims against their employers over alleged violations of the labour law. IT Director at the Ministry Eng. Muna Salem Al Fadhli said the launch of the platform is within the framework of expanding communication channels among target groups, and facilitating their use by converting them into systems and cloud applications that can be used on tablets, computers and smart phones.
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STRATEGY
Agility will be vital post-pandemic, say lawyers
The FT reports on how multinational law firm Dentons' new toolkit to improve agile working across its offices worldwide was put to the test during the pandemic.
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HEALTH & SAFETY
Jordan’s vaccination drive for Higher Education Ministry staff concludes
Jordan’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, has concluded a campaign to vaccinate staff of the Ministry of Higher Education against the coronavirus, according to a report from the Jordan News Agency, Petra. Ministry spokesperson Muhannad Al Khatib said the campaign comes within the two ministries' plans to support national efforts in combating the pandemic.
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INTERNATIONAL
Compliance officers have a growing role in corporate sustainability efforts
US companies including Dell and Western Union are relying more on the work of their chief compliance officers as they seek to demonstrate to ESG-focused shareholders their commitment to sustainability. Such companies believe that the role played by compliance in ensuring that employees act ethically is key to corporate efforts to attract sustainability-minded investors. “A compliance officer is viewed as a leader in ethics, in good corporate practices,” observes Taylor Pullins, a former sustainability director for Houston-based oil and gas producer Noble Energy. “Right there, they have a role in disclosing internally to employees and to the market about why they are a responsible corporation.” The Wall Street Journal notes the legal risks associated with ESG commitments, as regulators take steps to protect investors from claims that could be viewed as deceptive — or so-called “greenwashing.” Dave Curran, who leads law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison’s sustainability practice, says: “Over the last couple of years, [ESG] has become a mountaintop of risk . . . Lawyers and compliance executives are getting more and more involved in everything from pressure-testing disclosures, to analysing processes and procedures, to tracking, measuring and monitoring these programs.”
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Indian businesses urge government to restrict non-essential economic activity
Business leaders in India are calling for a de facto lockdown in the country as companies struggle to muster enough healthy staff amid the latest Covid surge.  Uday Kotak, president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), said: “We need to curtail non-essential economic activity and services for a very short while to break the chain. Essential services like oxygen, supply of medicine and food items have to continue,” adding that the government should turn to the “nationwide maximal response measure at the highest level.” Automotive companies including Maruti Suzuki, Hero MotoCorp, JCB India, MG Motor, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India have stopped production temporarily in the interest of employee safety, and service sector firms including Kotak Mahindra Bank, TCS and Infosys have adopted remote working strategies. CII has suggested proactive measures including making testing available for employees whose presence at the workplace is necessary, and making quarantine facilities available for infected workers.
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Norwegian oil firms and labour unions reach wage deal
Norwegian oil companies and labour unions have agreed a wage deal that has prevented the potential outbreak of a strike among workers later this year. The Norwegian Oil and Gas Association (NOG) said each worker’s annual wage will increase by 20,100 Norwegian crowns ($2,409). The Lederne, Safe and Industri Energi unions have all signed the agreement. The negotiations covered 7,000 workers, mostly rig operators, drillers and service staff at 14 companies including Equinor, Aker BP, Lundin Energy and ConocoPhillips.
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One in six Australian public servants sexually harassed in workplace
The results of a survey of more than 3,000 public servants in Australia show that almost 16% have reported sexual harassment. The Guardian says the results of the poll of 3,280 workers by the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) will add pressure on the government to do more to combat workplace misconduct. Although the poll indicates that almost one in six public servants has experienced sexual harassment, only one-third of incidents were reported, according to the survey. Two-thirds of incidents went unreported due to fears they would not be impartially investigated.
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