LEGISLATION WATCH- Careem submits proposals for Ride-hailing Apps Act executive regs: Ride-hailing cab company Careem Egypt has submitted proposals and suggestions to the government committee tasked with drafting the executive regulations to the Ride-hailing Apps Act, GM Wael Abou El Ela said yesterday, Al Mal reports. The proposal includes provisions to ensure inclusion and encourage more drivers — regardless of the type of vehicle they drive (code for “white cabs”?) — to join ride-hailing apps, according to Abou El Ela. Careem has also suggested that the regs leave room for flexible working hours and schedules to accommodate drivers who work on an irregular or seasonal basis. The company has also asked the committee to identify a single authority to handle the affairs of ride-hailing apps and implement a single-window policy for all their related matters, Abou El Ela added.

Background: We had heard that drivers at companies Uber and Careem called on social media for a strike earlier this month to protest the delay in issuing the regulations for the Ride-hailing Apps Act, which were due out in September. The regs to the act, which was signed into law in June, are meant to outline licensing requirements and fees for ride-hailing companies. House reps. had said not to expect the regs to be issued before January 2019, blaming the delay on the number of parties involved in the drafting process, which include representatives from various ministries and agencies, as well as executives from Uber and Careem.