Towards the end of 2019, KSA and UAE introduced various
amendments to their legislation, in particular the labour
legislation to provide for, amongst other changes,
anti-discrimination provisions in the workplace. These amendments,
in common with anti-discrimination laws in other jurisdictions, aim
to promote certain social policies and prevent exclusion of
specific groups from the workplace and general opportunities. These
developments supplement developments elsewhere in the GCC
region.
UAE – amendments
Much of the focus of the amendments is the prevention of gender
discrimination. As many will be aware the UAE established a Gender
Balance Council in 2016, with one of their mandate to publish a
comprehensive guidance book for employers on the implementation of
anti- sex and gender discrimination in the workplace, which was
published in September 2017. The legislative amendments recently
introduced puts such guidance on a firmer legal footing, failing
compliance
