National

The Somalian government is developing the National Diaspora Policy with the support of IOM. The policy will support sustainable development by strengthening social and economic linkages between Somalia and its diaspora, including migrant workers abroad. The national Department of Diaspora Affairs, under the Foreign Affairs Ministry, will undertake consultations with government and non-government stakeholders, including IOM to ensure that a participatory, inclusive and coherent policy is developed.

The Ministry has extended the scope of the term "family" relative to the distribution of visas amongst family members of foreign workers in the Kingdom, to now include "spouse, children or parents."

The first component of these reforms is that employees are now, subject to conditions, able to transfer their employment in-country. Secondly, employees are now able to apply for and obtain exit/re-entry permits and the final exit permit by themselves without permission from their employers.

Foreign investors and retirees can obtain long term residency rights in the Sultanate.

The “100 Million Meal Campaign,” a food distribution campaign, was launched to support labourers and vulnerable families adversely affected by the pandemic during the holy month of Ramadan by providing meals and food parcels to them. Inspection visits were undertaken to worker housing camps to ensure proper implementation of precautionary measures and the cleanliness and sanitation of dining halls and common areas. Inspection visits were also extended to shops frequented by labourers, medical clinics and buses that carry them to work sites.

The Tunisian ministry for human rights, relations with constitutional bodies and civil society launched an online platform (www.aide-covid19.tn) for foreigners stranded in Tunisia due to the coronavirus emergency, specifically students, migrants, and asylum seekers. The platform is to help individuals seek assistance, get connected to different organizations, and to receive donations and other aid from individuals or legal entities.

The General Directorate of the General Security announces that entry is permitted across all land borders for holders of valid residency and their family members or those wishing to transit from Syria via Lebanon to travel through the airport, provided that they possess a travel ticket and attend a maximum of 24 hours before the plane’s date, after having a PCR test issued by laboratories accredited by the Syrian Ministry of Health for a period not exceeding 48 hours indicating that they are not infected with the Coronavirus.

The Board of Commissioners approved the amendments regarding Resolution (194) on non-Jordanian domestic workers in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone. The amendments include additions to some articles such as adding “with the presentation of a disease-free certificate from the country of arrival” to Article 3, as well as reformulating some articles.

The Asylum Act of 2014 replaces the 1974 Asylum Act to establish the conditions for refusal of asylum, the loss of refugee status, and the rights and duties of refugees.