Effective immediately, companies operating in the oil and gas sector must obtain preapproval from the Sabah Chief Minister’s Department (JKM) before being able to submit new or renewal Work Pass applications to the Sabah Immigration Department. The application for preapproval from JKM is expected to take approximately four weeks to adjudicate from the date of submission.
Ghana: Online review process introduced for oil and gas sector work permit applicants
The Ghana Petroleum Commission (GPC) has introduced an online system for receiving and reviewing work permit applications. Work permit applicants must email their application and all supporting documents to humanresourcecommittee@petrocom.gov.gh to the attention of the Work Permit Committee (WPC), Localization Unit, Petroleum Commission.
Mozambique: New law to implement stricter quota requirements
A new law will clarify the rules regarding the hiring of foreign nationals and will implement stricter requirements related to the foreign worker quota, employment agencies hiring foreign workers and employees transferring to a new location or employer. The law will be effective November 29, 2016 and does not apply to the oil, gas and mining sectors.
Kazakhstan: Work permit fee forthcoming
On or after January 1, 2017, companies in the oil and gas, financial, consulting and other sectors will be subject to a work permit fee.
Companies hiring intra-company transferees in any sector will be exempt from paying the work permit fee but will still be subject to special conditions if hiring foreign nationals.
Nigeria: New registration requirements introduced for oil and gas sector companies
Oil and gas sector companies seeking work permits on or after June 6, 2016 must provide evidence of registration with the Nigerian Content and Development Management Board (NCDMB), and those involved in engineering projects must register with the Council for the Regulations of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), according to new requirements issued by the Nigerian Immigration authorities.
Ghana: Additional requirements imposed for oil and gas sector work permits
Dubai: Are rents in Abu Dhabi falling faster than in Dubai?
The cost of renting apartments appears to have dropped more in Abu Dhabi than it has in Dubai, at least according to the data compiled by one property analyst.
Leasing rates at residential buildings in the UAE capital have registered a 4 per cent decline on average since the beginning of the year until the end of February, according to real estate portal Bayut.com, which has about 1,000 property listings. In comparison, rents in Dubai went up by an average of 4 per cent during the same period, though overall rates remain cheaper compared to last year.