Qatar Cabinet Holds Regular Weekly Meeting

Doha, July 09 (QNA) - HE Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani on Wednesday chaired the cabinet's regular meeting at its seat at the Emiri Diwan. Following the meeting, HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud made the following statement: The cabinet reviewed topics on the agenda as follows: First: Taking the necessary procedures to issue the following two draft laws after the cabinet reviewed the Advisory Council's recommendations about them: 1. A draft law exempting profit shares of non-Qatari investors in some companies and investment funds from income tax. Under the draft law, profit shares of non-Qatari investors in companies and investment funds that are traded in the financial market are to be exempted from income tax. Their shares of profit from the trading of all securities including units of investment funds listed in the financial market are to be exempted as well. 2. A draft law waiving customs duty for some goods. According to the draft law, customs duties shall be waived for some of the goods used by persons with disabilities, which are imported for government entities in charge of taking care of people with disabilities, associations licensed to care for them, or for personal use by GCC nationals of cardholders of people with special needs. Second: Approving a draft law amending some provisions of the Labor Law No. (14) of 2004 and to submit it to the Advisory Council. According to the amendment, wages of workers who are hired based on an annual or a monthly salary are to be paid at least once a month, and wages of all other workers are to be paid at least once every two weeks. The employer must transfer the worker's wage to their account at one of the financial institutions so that it could be withdrawn by the scheduled date. An employer shall be accountable for the worker's wage until these procedures are met. Regulations to protect workers' wages shall be issued in a decision by the minister of labor and social affairs. Third: Approving a draft law on the system of electing members of the central municipality council and submitting it to the Advisory Council. The draft law included provisions related to voters, registration lists, candidacy, voting procedures, campaigning, and challenging the validity of the elections as well as abolishing memberships. Fourth - Approving a proposal by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce to form a working group to coordinate on issues of e-commerce between the Ministry of Economy and Trade and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. Fifth - Approving the application of the provisions of Law No. (24) of 2002 on retirement and pensions for Qatari employees in the behavioral health support center. Sixth - The cabinet reviewed the following topics and took the appropriate decisions: 1- The proposals concerning the development of the family courts in the State of Qatar, and the visions of the Supreme Judiciary Council and the Ministry of Justice in this regard. 2- The Ministry of Environment's letter regarding the outcome of the 33rd session of the general assembly of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development, which was held in Kuwait in May. 3- The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology's letter regarding the periodic report on the work of the steering committee for e-government from October 2013 until March 2014. This committee is in charge of monitoring the implementation of e-government strategy and the achievement of the rules of coordination and communication between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology as well as ministries and other government agencies to ensure that the plans and programs of these parties are aligned with the overall strategy of e-government. The report stated that the committee has developed an operational framework for e-government programs, and developing the strategy for 2020, as well as the development of key policies for e-government program and measuring the technical readiness for digital transformation of government agencies, and the development of e-government services. 4- The minister of justice's letter on the draft protocol attached to the Arab Anti-Corruption Convention on the establishment of an Arab court to restore proceeds resulting from corruption. Seventh: Taking the necessary measures to ratify: a- A memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of education, higher education and scientific research between the government of the State of Qatar and the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. b- A memorandum of understanding on consultation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. (QNA)