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Middle East Edition
18th November 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

Survey indicates growing confidence in employing Omani talent

The results of Oman's Employer Survey 2025 conducted by the Ministry's Department of Statistics and Information have been announced. The survey aimed to study the alignment of higher education outputs with the national labour market requirements and identify the skills and competencies needed in various economic sectors. Dr Rahma bint Ibrahim al Mahrouqiyah, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, highlighted that more than two-thirds (68%) of employers had hired Omani graduates from higher education institutions, in a demonstration of increasing confidence in employing national talent. Additionally, almost half (47%) of respondents reported hiring graduates without prior work experience, indicating a willingness to invest in training and on-the-job experience.
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DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Qatari women are shaping the country's labour market

Saad A. Al-Kharji, executive director of Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), has highlighted the significant role of Qatari women in the local labour market. He noted that women are increasingly taking on leadership roles across various sectors, including education, healthcare, and technology. Al-Kharji said: "This progress is not coincidental; it stems from a clear national vision." Despite high educational achievements, female workforce participation remains low at 63.3%, compared to 95.6% for men. Al-Kharji emphasised the need for early career guidance and comprehensive strategies to bridge this gap and empower women in emerging industries.
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WORKFORCE

UAE Labour Market Award boost prize pool

The UAE Labour Market Award has increased its prize pool to Dh50m for 98 winners. The award, hosted by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratizations, received over 18,000 applications, a 134% rise from the previous edition. Winners were chosen based on rigorous criteria, including employment practices and corporate social responsibility. The award aims to enhance competitiveness in the labour market and promote public-private collaboration, aligning with the UAE's Vision 2031.

Five-day holiday for Sharjah government employees

Sharjah has announced a public holiday for government employees on the occasion of the 54th Union Day. Monday, December 1 and Tuesday, December 2 have been declared as holidays; official work will resume from Wednesday, December 3, the Sharjah Human Resources said. This is in effect a five-day holiday for public sector employees, who enjoy a usual three-day weekend falling on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Oman's Ministry of Labour launches Qudrat digital platform

Dr Mahad bin Said Baowain, Oman's Minister of Labour, has launched the Qudrat digital platform, aimed at enhancing national capacity building and talent management. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to unify talent programmes across government and private sectors. Sayyid Salim bin Musallam al Busaidy, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, noted that the platform will benefit various segments of Omani society, including students and job-seekers. Dr Zamzam bint Saif al Lamkiyah, project director, highlighted that Qudrat will create a comprehensive digital identity for skills, supporting workforce development and future planning.
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CORPORATE

Majid Al Futtaim denies reports of stake sale

Majid Al Futtaim has denied reports suggesting it is planning to sell a stake or parts of its business, calling such claims "entirely inaccurate, unfounded and misleading." The Dubai-based conglomerate confirmed there are no planned changes to its governance, shareholding, or company structure, directly refuting a Bloomberg report about potential stake sales or an IPO. The company, whose retail, property, leisure, and entertainment businesses span the MENA region, said it continues to deliver "sustained value" across its portfolio.
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TECHNOLOGY

BlackRock moves to take on hedge fund giants

BlackRock is adding stockpickers to Systematic Total Alpha, its top mathematical and data-driven hedge fund, following a strategy pursued by rivals to house human and computer-driven strategies under one roof.
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INTERNATIONAL

UK tribunals could be overwhelmed by flexible working requests

The proposed Employment Rights Bill may lead to significant litigation risks for UK businesses, according to the House of Lords Home-based Working Committee. The report, "Is working from home working?", warns that unclear definitions of "reasonable" requests for flexible working could overwhelm employment tribunals. Baroness Rosalind Scott, chair of the committee, said: "Without a clear definition, there is a risk of years of litigation." The report also highlights potential inequalities in homeworking and the possibility of workers striking if forced back to the office. On the plus side, home working could support the government’s plans to get people back into work, by enabling people to work who might not otherwise be able to do so. The government plans to review the findings before responding next year.

Legality of the EU's minimum wage directive is upheld

The European Court of Justice has upheld the EU's minimum wage directive, rejecting Denmark's challenge to annul it on the basis that it undermined the division of powers between the EU and member states. Labour MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, a member of the European Parliament Employment Committee, said the judgment was a "landmark moment for workers' rights in Europe . . . It puts beyond any doubt that fair pay and collective bargaining are at the heart of the European social model. The Court has been crystal clear: governments must act to strengthen workers' bargaining power and ensure that every worker earns a wage that meets the threshold of decency." The EU Directive on Adequate Minimum wages became law in October 2022 and was designed to establish a legal framework to promote adequate statutory minimum wages and collective bargaining on wage-setting.

Amazon faces lawsuit over disability policies

Amazon is facing a proposed class action lawsuit alleging that its absence policy discriminates against warehouse employees with disabilities. The complaint, led by Cayla Lyster, claims that Amazon docks unpaid time off for employees seeking accommodations and threatens termination for excessive absences. Lyster, who has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, described what she said was a "punitive absence control system," which she claims intimidates employees into not requesting necessary accommodations. The lawsuit seeks damages for hourly warehouse workers in New York who have sought or intended to seek accommodations over the past three years. Inimai Chettiar, president of A Better Balance, a workplace advocacy organisation, said that "workers shouldn't ever need to choose between their safety and their paycheck." The lawsuit follows a similar case filed by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin against Amazon for denying reasonable accommodation requests.

China rolls out its version of the H-1B visa

Writing for AP News, Chan Ho-Him considers the K-visa, which was launched by China last month as part of the country’s widening effort to catch up with the US. in the race for global talent. “[The] K-visa for China [is] an equivalent to the H-1B for the US,” observed Vaishnavi Srinivasagopalan, a skilled Indian IT professional who has worked in both India and the US, and who has been looking for work in China. “It is a good option for people like me to work abroad.” The launch of the K-visa coincides with uncertainties over the US's H-1B program under tightened immigrations policies implemented by President Donald Trump.
 
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