Saudi Laws Update

 Ministry orders 100 percent Saudization of customer care services, call centers Arabnews (02 February 2021) All these customer care services should now be based in Saudi Arabia RIYADH: Saudi Minister for Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi on Monday restricted the outsourcing of customer care services through call centers to foreign countries. It has become a common practice for businesses to outsource customer care services using call centers based in foreign countries such as the US, the UK, India, Pakistan or some other neighboring Arab country. As per the new directives, all such services offered remotely including phone calls, emails, online chats and social media interaction can no longer be outsourced.  All these customer care services should now be based in Saudi Arabia. The decision aims to create employment opportunities for Saudis. HIGHLIGHTS • As per the new directives, customer care services offered remotely including phone calls, e...

Saudi Paper files lawsuit against ex-CEO on violations of $10.9m Arabnews The paper manufacturer noted that it obtained the legal advice, which confirmed its right to claim the amount from  Hassan Asiree. The company took this legal action due to financial and administrative violations committed by the former chief. Saudi Paper Manufacturing Co. filed a liability lawsuit with the Commercial Court against ex-board member and CEO Hassan  Asiree on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, the company said in a filing to Tadawul. The company took this legal action due to financial and administrative violations committed by Asiree, with an estimated  value of SAR 40.95 million ($10.9 million), which includes the following: 1) Selling the company's factory in Morocco without receiving the sale amount, recovering it, or disclosing the relevant developments. 2) Participating in the responsibility for canceling the debt of SR 17.3 million, which is part of the value of selling the compa...

Jawazat: Expats who fail to return on reentry can come back only after 3 years SaudiGazette, January 31, 2021 Jawazat’s clarification came in response to queries from many foreigners who want to come back to the Kingdom after leaving the country years ago on exit and reentry visa and did not return before the expiry of the visa.  RIYADH — The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) has clarified that those expatriates, who left the Kingdom on exit and reentry visa and did not come back before the expiry of the visa, are not allowed to reenter the Kingdom for a period of three years. However, this is not applicable to those who come back to the previous employer with a new work visa. The Jawazat’s clarification came in response to queries from many foreigners who want to come back to the Kingdom after leaving the country years ago on exit and reentry visa and did not return before the expiry of the visa.

Saudi free economic zones under final review by govt: Al-Falih Arabnews Al-Falih indicated that select zones will be exempt from some taxes to support macro economy RIYADH: The free economic zones planned to be launched in Saudi Arabia are under final review by the government, said Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih. Speaking to Argaam during the 2021 Budget Forum, Al-Falih indicated that select zones will be exempt from some taxes to support macro economy. These zones will have a special legislative environment and also special incentives. Local and foreign investors interested in building new industries will be attracted to the Kingdom. The economic zones do not target to attract the existing investments. They rather seek to introduce new sectors that eye exports and improved balance of payments. The free zones also aim to enhance the qualitative economy, such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, digital industries including cloud computing and artificial intelligence, according to...

Court terminates sponsorship transfer contract, refers case to Public Prosecution January 20, 2021 Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — The General Court in Jeddah terminated the contract between a Saudi citizen, who is a restaurant owner, and a Saudi woman over the transfer of sponsorship of a foreign worker. The court also referred the case involving SR60,000 to the Public Prosecution to take appropriate measures for the violation of the provisions of the Law on Combating Trafficking in Persons. The court also ordered the woman sponsor to refund the money, amounting to SR30,000, to the citizen that she had received in advance for the transfer of sponsorship of the foreign worker. The court issued the ruling after examining the lawsuit filed by the citizen against the woman. He alleged that the woman agreed to transfer the sponsorship of the foreigner who could work in his restaurant. According to the contract, the citizen agreed to pay SR60,000 for the transfer of sponsorship of the worker....

GAZT extends penalty waiver until June 30 Saudi Gazette report January 21, 2021 RIYADH — The General Authority of Zakat and Tax (GAZT) extended the waiver period of fines and financial penalties for taxpayers until June 30, 2021, the authority said in a statement. The move is part of the Kingdom’s initiatives to stimulate the economy and support the private sector to face the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak. As part of the initiative, taxpayers will be exempted from fines on delays in the payment of due taxes or filing tax returns. They will be also exempted from the penalties imposed for correcting tax returns under the value-added tax (VAT) law. Taxpayers will be 100 percent exempted from fines if they fully pay the principal tax amount under the relevant tax return during the period from January-March 2021. The GAZT added that 75 percent of fines will be waived if taxpayers fully pay the principal tax under the relevant tax return during the period from April-May 2021...

തൊഴിൽ കേസുകൾ ഇപ്പോൾ നാജിസ്  ( Najiz.sa) വഴി ഫയൽ ചെയ്യാം  20 ഡിസംബർ 2021   തൊഴിൽ കേസുകളും മറ്റ് അനുബന്ധ തർക്കങ്ങളും നാജിസ് വഴി ഫയൽ ചെയ്യാമെന്ന് നീതിന്യായ മന്ത്രാലയം. നേരത്തെഉള്ള വ്യവസ്ഥ പരിഹരിക്കപ്പെടാത്ത തൊഴിൽ കേസുകൾ 21 ദിവസത്തിനുള്ളിൽ ഉചിതമായ ലേബർ ഓഫീസുകളുടെ സെറ്റിൽമെന്റ് കമ്മിറ്റി വഴി കൈമാറണം എന്നായിരുന്നു.   നാജിസ് വഴി കേസുകൾ ഫയൽ ചെയ്യാൻ തൊഴിലുടമയെയും ജീവനക്കാരനെയും അനുവദിക്കുന്നതിലൂടെ , കേസുകൾ ശരിയായി ഫയൽ ചെയ്യുന്നുവെന്ന് കോടതിക്ക് ഉറപ്പാക്കാൻ കഴിയും , കൂടാതെ അപേക്ഷകന്റെ എല്ലാ അഭ്യർത്ഥനകളും ഉൾപ്പെടുത്തി , എല്ലാ നടപടിക്രമ ആവശ്യകതകളും ശരിയായി പാലിക്കുക , കേസുകൾ വേഗത്തിൽ സ്വീകരിക്കുക , വ്യവഹാര സമയം കുറയ്ക്കുക എന്നതും ഇത് കൊണ്ട് സാധിക്കും   നാജിസ്   വഴി കേസുകൊടുക്കാനുള്ള വ്യവസ്ഥകൾ ഇവയാണ്:   തൊഴിൽ നിയമത്തിന് വിധേയമായ തൊഴിൽ വ്യവഹാരങ്ങൾ ഒരു തർക്കം ഉണ്ടാകുമ്പോൾ , തൊഴിലാളിയോ തൊഴിലുടമയോ ആദ്യം ഉചിതമായ ലേബർ ഓഫീസിൽ കേസ് ഫയൽ ചെയ്യും. ഒരു ഒത്തുതീർപ്പിലെത്താത്തപ്പോൾ , ലേബർ സെറ്റിൽമെന്റ് കമ്മിറ്റി റിപ്പോർട്ടിന്റെ ഒരു പകർപ്പ് അറ്റാച്ചുചെയ്ത് നാജിസ്   വഴി ഒരു ക...