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Middle East Edition
25th November 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

Oman launches association to regulate expatriate worker recruitment

The Ministry of Social Development in Oman has established the Association of Expatriate Labour Recruitment Agencies to regulate the recruitment of expatriate workers. H E Dr Laila bint Ahmed al Najjar, the Minister of Social Development, issued Ministerial Decision No 405/2025 on November 20. The association aims to enhance coordination among licensed agencies, government bodies, and companies. It will ensure compliance with labour regulations, represent member agencies, and address unlicensed recruitment activities. A 12-member board will manage the association, funded by membership fees and government subsidies.
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WORKFORCE

Partnership to provide instant salary access for Saudi employees

Financial technology company ABHI Saudi is partnering with Saudi real estate platform Bayut KSA to enable employees to instantly access a portion of their earned wages through ABHI's Earned Wage Access (EWA) solution. Bayut KSA employees will be able to withdraw a portion of their accrued salary at any time during the month. Nouf Alqahtani, HR operations manager at Bayut KSA, said: “Providing instant access to earned wages through ABHI Saudi offers our employees more convenience, flexibility, and control over their financial needs.”
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LEGAL

Amcham Oman hosts session on employment law updates

The Oman American Business Council (AmCham Oman) has hosted a session on employment regulations at the Radisson Panorama Hotel. The event attracted HR professionals, legal advisors, and business leaders keen to understand recent developments in Oman's employment laws and the Social Protection Law. Ahmed al Barwani, partner at Al Tamimi & Co Oman, said: "Employment law continues to evolve in Oman in alignment with the nation's Vision 2040 goals." The event concluded with a Q&A session and networking, underscoring AmCham Oman's role in fostering professional exchange.

Kuwait hikes residency and visit visa fees

Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, Kuwait's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, issued Ministerial Decree No. 2249/2025, outlining new regulations for the Foreigners' Residence Law. The decree specifies various residency fees, including KD 20 for government and private sector employees, and KD 500 for self-sponsoring foreign residents. Exemptions from salary requirements apply to specific professions, such as legal researchers and medical staff. The regulations also detail conditions for converting visit visas to residency permits and stipulate that foreigners must complete residency procedures within two months of entry.
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ECONOMY

DHL opens $150m Riyadh logisitcs hub

DHL Supply Chain has announced a €130m investment in a new 78,000 sq m logistics hub in Riyadh, set to open in 2027, as part of a broader €500m regional expansion. The facility, located in the Special Integrated Logistics Zone by King Khalid International Airport, aims to support growth in technology, e-commerce and automotive sectors, and will benefit from faster clearance via a bonded corridor.
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INTERNATIONAL

UK minister suggests climbdown over workers' rights

UK Business Secretary Peter Kyle has hinted he may concede to amendments on Labour's Employment Rights Bill to make it less damaging to business during a speech at the Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) annual conference. He said concerns about the Bill, which provides day one protections, bans zero-hour contracts and alters statutory sick leave, were exaggerated, observing: "In the world we're living in now, the workplace is fundamentally different than it was 10 and 20 years ago. The law has to keep up, regulation has to keep up." Kyle added: "I'll do what it takes to get it through because I need to get on with the real business." He also said that he would hold a series of 26 consultations with companies after the Bill becomes law. 

Australia's right to disconnect laws reduce unpaid overtime hours

Labour laws in Australia are effectively reducing unpaid overtime for full-time workers, according to a report from the Australian Institute's Centre for Future Work. The average full-time employee worked 6.2 hours of unpaid overtime weekly in 2023, before Labor's right to disconnect laws were introduced, a figure which decreased to 3.8 hours in 2025. Report author Dr Fiona Macdonald did however note that while full-time workers have benefited, part-time workers face rising unpaid overtime, which has been attributed to their employment conditions. Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth said that no significant disputes arose regarding the right to disconnect laws, which have reportedly improved employee engagement and productivity.

Tod's executives face labour exploitation probe

Italian prosecutors are investigating Tod's and three of its executives for alleged labour exploitation involving Chinese subcontractors. The Milan Prosecutor's Office claims Tod's knowingly violated labour laws regarding working hours, wages, and safety. A court document revealed that 53 workers were exploited, with one worker alleging physical abuse over unpaid wages. Prosecutors described the company's lack of oversight as "malicious." Tod's founder Diego Della Valle defended the luxury fashion label's reputation, warning that such investigations could harm "Made in Italy" brands. A hearing is set for December 3 regarding a proposed advertising ban.

Korea cracks down on labour violations at worksites employing foreign nationals

Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labour identified significant labour rights violations during inspections of 182 high-risk workplaces employing foreign workers. A total of 846 violations were identified, including wage theft amounting to 1.7bn won ($1.16m) at 123 businesses. Officials noted that some employers exploited workers' noncitizen status, denying them equal benefits. Labour Minister Kim Young-hoon said: "There cannot be any distinction between Korean and foreign workers when it comes to protecting basic labour rights." The ministry said it plans to enhance monitoring and improve conditions for foreign workers.
 
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