13. Meanwhile, the expatriate workers have the right to the enjoyment of many rights emanating
from the principle of equality, and the most important of which are the legal and judicial rights,
including the right to equality in employment without discrimination, as well as equality of all the
implications of the contract of employment, whether related to the rights of the worker or related
to his obligations to the employer. The effects of non-discrimination resulting from the employment
contract extend to the employer’s obligations towards the worker by binding him/her to pay his
dues and provide a good work environment, in addition to security, safety factors, occupational
health, social services and otherwise.
14. T
he NIHR applauds the approval of the Cabinet of the introduction of a new system called “ flexible
work permit”, which provides a legal alternative to the use of informal employment, where the
Labour Market Regulatory Authority will issue the necessary permits to foreign workers for two
years enabling them to perform temporary work with any employer or individual in any profession
that does not require a professional license. The head of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority,
said that the “flexible work permit” - which will come into force in 2017 - will provide a new
possibility for expatriates to correct their status according to the new regulatory framework, where
informal employment is incorporated within the regulatory system under the terms of guaranteeing
the rights of all parties. This system will allow the worker to join any employer, whether with a
commercial record or individually, and receive a temporary contract. It also gives any business
owner the possibility of contracting a worker for flexible hours or for a number of days or weeks.
15. The Ministry of Labour and Social Development offers a number of work services aimed at
providing legal support for the workers, including the inspection and control of various facilities
to ensure the implementation of the provisions of the labor law in the private sector by employers.
Also, departments concerned with providing direct services to workers were setup; such as the
workers’ arbitration and consulting department, which works on the registration of unions and
investigates complaints and works to resolve them. In addition to the labor disputes council, which
works to strengthen the labor culture of contribution and positive cooperation in solving cases and
disputes between employers and workers, shelters and services center for expat workers have been
established.
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