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Middle East Edition
28th March 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
Lawyers need better understanding of 'emotional journey', says report
A study by the International Chamber of Commerce says lawyers need a better understanding of the "emotional journey" of the businesses they advise, as well as local values and practices to avoid cross-border disputes. The study of over 1,700 mid to senior-level managers indicated that the cultural backgrounds of business people and organisations profoundly influence their approaches to acquiring, maintaining and ending relationships. According to research, where conflicts arose, 50% of those questioned attributed contract failure to weak relationships between the parties, with the other half blaming contractual issues or performance. The report suggests that the ability of lawyers to understand relationships also affects a company's choice of external counsel. Some 47% of survey respondents said that they would prioritise individuals or firms showing cultural sensitivity. Roland Ziadé, an international arbitration partner at London headquartered law firm Linklaters, says there is an increasing move for lawyers to be "emotionally and culturally intelligent" as well as "legally savvy." He says the report reminds in-house and external counsel of the benefits of multilingual teams with cross-cultural experience. Jon Newman, a partner at Kirkland & Ellis, says that "emotional intelligence is a critical skill for lawyers" - but most do not understand that point as they focus on the legal or commercial aspects of their roles.
LEGAL
Endeavour says ousted CEO made $15m of secret payments to unknown UAE entity
Sébastien de Montessus, the sacked CEO of Endeavour Mining, has been implicated in $15m of disguised payments made to an unknown entity in the UAE. The firm accused the ousted chief executive of "concealing his actions with repeated false representations to management, the Board and auditors.” An investigation by EY and law firm Linklaters found that Mr de Montessus transferred the money in 2020 and 2021, but the recipient remains unidentified as the “entity was liquidated immediately after the funds were transferred.” Endeavour Mining fired Mr de Montessus in January after alleging he made an irregular payment of $5.9m to an unknown third party. Endeavour, which has clawed back remuneration totalling almost $30m from Mr De Montessus, plans to recover bonuses and shares awarded to its former CEO.
Employers in UAE must register Emirati employees within 30 days
The General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) has announced that employers in the UAE are required to register their Emirati employees within 30 days of their employment. Failure to comply with this requirement can result in fines of up to Dh200 per day. Employers must also provide the GPSSA with the names of insured Emiratis whose service periods end within 15 days. Contributions must be paid starting from the date the employee joins the entity, and late payments will incur additional charges. Contributions for government sector employees are calculated based on the actual contribution account salary for each month. The registration provisions also apply to individuals who have been granted Emirati nationality while working with an employer subject to this legal decree.
HIRING
For young people, the job search has never been so miserable
Margaret Heffernan laments the rise of automated job application processes which she says leave job seekers feeling humiliated and alienated from the world of work before they’ve even started.
WORKFORCE
Unemployment rate in Saudi Arabia drops to 7.7% in Q4 2022
Saudi Arabia's unemployment rate among citizens decreased to 7.7% in the fourth quarter of 2022, according to government data. The overall unemployment rate, including expat labour, fell to 4.4% in Q4. Job creation for Saudi nationals, a goal of Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman's Vision 2030 program, is aimed at reducing the country's dependency on oil.
Financial and insurance workers among best paid in Tunisia
Financial and insurance workers in Tunisia earn high salaries, with managers in these sectors making an average basic salary of TND 3,258, which is 708% of the guaranteed minimum monthly wage. The real estate, mining, and communication sectors also offer well-paying jobs. However, workers in the education sector have lower salaries compared to other sectors. The "Survey of employment and salaries in companies in 2022" conducted by the National Institute of Statistics provides these insights. The survey aims to collect information on employment trends, wages, and working hours.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
Symposium on empowering people with disabilities held in Qatar
A program has been held at a symposium in Qatar to discuss the importance of developing academic and vocational institutions for people with disabilities. Experts and researchers from inside and outside Qatar discussed various topics, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the role of Arab countries in the convention, and the contribution of academic and training institutions to the needs of the local labour market. The participants emphasized the need to empower and integrate people with disabilities, highlighting the importance of assistive technology programs and education and job opportunities, and also mentioned the challenges faced by some Arab countries in implementing the convention, such as budget constraints and lack of specialised personnel.
INTERNATIONAL
Employers elevate women into leadership with job sharing and part-time senior roles
Job sharing and part-time senior roles are being used by Australian employers to promote women in leadership and to narrow gender pay gaps. According to Australia's gender equality agency, only 7% of managers work part-time compared to 22% of non-managers, sending a clear message about the need for change. The chief executive of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, Mary Wooldridge, stated that companies must reimagine how managers can work in top positions to increase female representation. Wooldridge also highlighted the success of law firm Lander and Rogers, where partners have been job sharing for the past five years. The release of company-specific pay gap data showed that almost two-thirds of employers had gender pay gaps favouring men. . The federal government has also released its first-ever gender equality strategy, which includes a commitment to pay super on Commonwealth-funded paid parental leave.
Japanese government warns companies about North Korean IT workers posing as Japanese nationals
The Japanese government has issued a warning to domestic companies about contracting North Korean IT workers who pose as Japanese nationals. The warning statement was jointly released by the National Police Agency, Foreign Ministry, Finance Ministry, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The government has stated that the threat of North Korean workers posing as Japanese nationals is increasing. These workers disguise their identities or use a relative already residing in Japan to register with websites that connect freelance IT workers with tech companies. They tend to carry out their tasks and earn wages while based in China or Russia. The government's warning follows similar guidance issued by the United States and South Korea. A U.N. expert panel report in March found that North Korean workers were using false identities to win contracts and generate revenue for the country's weapons development programs.
Boundary between work and life disappears as Chinese workers face 'invisible' overtime
For Jewel Wong from China's southern Guangdong province, the boundary between life and work disappeared during the pandemic when people began to do their jobs from home. The extra demands of managing her company's communications around the clock led to work intruding constantly into her personal life. China's politicians have proposed more legal protections for employees who had to continue work online after office hours — a form of "invisible" overtime. China's labour laws stipulate that employees are entitled to double pay for working overtime on weekends and triple pay for public holidays. However, companies in China often violate labour laws without being held accountable. Younger generations in China are challenging the existing working culture and demanding work-life balance. The government's proposal to address unpaid online overtime is seen as a step towards recognizing the issue. However, structural changes and stronger enforcement of labour laws are needed to protect workers' rights.
Number of people in poverty in Italy reaches decade high
The number of people living in poverty in Italy has reached its highest level in about a decade, despite the country's economic rebound since COVID restrictions were eased. According to national statistics bureau ISTAT, 5.75 million people, or 9.8% of the population, are living in "absolute poverty" and are unable to afford essential goods and services. This is a slight increase from the previous year and the highest level since 2014. Italy's economy has recovered more strongly than its neighbours, but the poorest citizens have not benefited from the rebound. Poverty levels have steadily risen since 2014, and the government's decision to phase out a poverty-relief subsidy has further impacted the poor. The north and centre regions have seen an increase in poverty, while the south has experienced a decrease.
 


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