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Middle East Edition
27th March 2023
 
THE HOT STORY
Saudi move to employ expatriates’ companions in certain circumstances
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Human Resources and Social Development has been granted the authority to employ companions of expatriate workers in the kingdom. The husbands or wives of expatriates and also a mahram (close blood relative) of expatriate working women will be allowed to be hired under certain conditions, Okaz/Saudi Gazette has reported. According to the conditions for employing companions, they must have passed the qualifying tests prescribed for practicing the specified profession in the kingdom in accordance with the government requirements.
WORKFORCE
Histadrut union calls for immediate general strike if judicial reform is not halted
The Secretary General of Israel’s Histadrut labour union has announced a “historic” strike in an attempt to “stop the madness” of the government’s judicial overhaul. “We are all worried about Israel’s fate,” Arnon Bar-David said. “Together we say, enough! We have lost our way — this is not about left or right . . . We can no longer polarise the nation.” The union chief said “I did everything I could over the past weeks to stop the situation,” but he observed that the efforts were in vain. “We are all joining hands to shut down the State of Israel,” he said. “The malls and the factories will close.”
WORKPLACE
Flexible Ramadan hours enhance productivity
Though only one working day has passed since Ramadan began on Thursday, flexible working hours have made it easier for government employees in Oman to practice fasting and cope with work, reports Times of Oman. Saada Al Ismaili, vice-president of Oman women’s sports and gender equality committee, said: “It is a welcome decision. I have personally yet to experience it as I am on leave, but the flexible working hours will give a proper life-balance between work and home. Remote work helps to avoid time lost in commuting to the office and flexible working hours certainly enhance productivity. Reduction in commuting hours to work is a big advantage.” Another government sector employee, Khoula Al Suleimani, said that “the new system of flexible working hours assists to reduce traffic, especially during afternoon peak traffic hours, and will help people to be more productive in the workplace.”
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Project will study risk of communicable diseases among Qatar's workers
Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and the Programme of Social Policy and Programme Evaluation (Prosper) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University's (HBKU) College of Public Policy (CPP) are partnering to conduct a research project titled 'Risk Assessment of Communicable Diseases among Workers in Qatar' that will include a comprehensive assessment of the prevalence and risk factors for communicable diseases among workers in Qatar as well as an analysis of the social, psychological, and economic impacts of communicable diseases on this population. “This project demonstrates our commitment towards supporting the health and wellbeing of Qatar's citizens and residents. By collaborating with HBKU's CPP, we aim to craft effective public health policy founded on robust research,” said Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Hamad al-Thani, director of Public Health, MoPH.
STRATEGY
AmCham hosts forum on Saudi 'Road to Localization'
Saudi Arabia’s “Road to Localization” was the focus of an American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Jeddah Chapter event featuring industry experts and representatives of leading corporations. Forrest Young, president of AmChamKSA Jeddah Chapter, welcomed representatives from Zahid Industries, Johnson Controls Arabia, SAWACO, and MARS Arabia. The panel discussion revolved around the industrial transformation taking place in the Kingdom as part of Vision 2030 reforms.
ECONOMY
IMF warns of increased financial stability risks
The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that the global economy faces increased financial stability risks amid turmoil in the banking industry. Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the IMF, said: “The rapid transition from a prolonged period of low interest rates to much higher rates necessary to fight inflation inevitably generates stresses and vulnerabilities, as we have seen in recent developments in the banking sector.” Her comments come amid concern over the global banking industry following the failure of Silicon Valley Bank and UBS’ rescue of rival Credit Suisse. Ms Georgieva said policymakers have acted decisively in response to financial stability risks, adding that while actions by central banks “have eased market stresses to some extent . . . uncertainty is high and that underscores the need for vigilance.” Ms Georgieva also said that uncertainties in the world economy remained “exceptionally high,” adding that the outlook for the global economy over the medium-term is likely to “remain weak.”
INTERNATIONAL
Ikea agrees to improve how it handles sexual harassment claims in the UK
Ikea has vowed to improve how it handles staff sexual harassment claims after the Equality and Human Rights Commission found it had potentially broken laws governing the handling of such allegations at one of the company's UK stores. The UK arm of Ikea has entered into a legal agreement with the UK’s equality regulator to improve its “policies and practices.” The regulator said Ikea had promised to communicate a “zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment to all staff”; hire a law firm to review its policies, processes and responses to complaints; and provide training to managers and human resources staff. The legally binding agreement is expected to last at least until August 2025, during which time the commission will monitor Ikea’s compliance. Baroness Falkner of Margravine, chairwoman of the commission, said: “In signing this agreement Ikea UK has taken an important step towards ensuring their staff are better protected from harassment. Sexual harassment needs to be dealt with very seriously. Training and development work already completed at the store where the complaint emerged is a welcome sign of Ikea’s commitment to better practice.”
China detains staff, raids office of US firm
The office of US corporate due diligence firm Mintz Group in Beijing has been raided by Chinese authorities. Five local staff were detained, the company said. Reuters says the incident stokes concern among foreign companies in China just as it hosts an international economic forum. Mintz Group's website says the company specializes in background checking, fact gathering and internal investigations. The company has 18 offices around the world and hundreds of employees. It said it was ready to work with Chinese authorities to "resolve any misunderstanding that may have led to these events" and that its top concern was the safety and wellbeing of colleagues in China. One US business community person has told Reuters the incident sent a "remarkable signal" that Beijing wants foreign money and technology but that it won't accept credible US firms conducting due diligence on Chinese partners or the business environment. "Red alerts should be going off in all boardrooms right now about risks in China," the source said.
German union boss says strike over pay is a matter of survival
Frank Werneke, head of Germany’s Verdi labour union, has told Bild am Sonntag that massive strike action planned for today is a "matter of survival" for many thousands of people who are fighting for higher wages amid surging inflation. The strike, which had already commenced at Munich Airport on Sunday, is Germany's largest in decades and is expected to cause widespread disruption on railways and at airports in Europe's biggest economy. "The people are not only underpaid, they are hopelessly overworked," Werneke said, adding "The strike is necessary to make clear to employees that we will vehemently stand up for our demands . . . It is a matter of survival for many thousands of employees to get a considerable pay rise." Verdi is calling for a 10.5% wage increase, which would see pay rising by at least €500 ($538) per month.
Canadian lender wants staff back in the office
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has asked its workers to return to the office three or four days a week, as Canada's largest lender eases its pandemic protocols. In an internal memo, RBC said that "starting May 1, employees in hybrid work arrangements will come together in person for the majority of the time. This means you have the option to work remotely for one to two days each week, depending on your team." The bank’s chief executive Dave McKay last year asked RBC employees to return to the office more often, but said the hybrid work approach was "here to stay." Reuters notes that nearly three years after the onset of the pandemic, employers worldwide are bolstering efforts to bring more workers back to offices.
 


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