No expatriate worker visas if firms don’t hire Omanis

Private firms that don’t hire Omanis could have their expat employee work permits “terminated,” according to a senior official.

The news came days after the Ministry of Manpower (MoM) recently decided to stop dealing with 199 establishments in the private sector for non-compliance with the Omanisation drive.

The companies employ more than 16,000 expats.

Salim Al Hadhrami, Director General of Planning and Development, in an exclusive interview with the Times of Oman, confirmed that the ministry will suspend work permits for companies found in violation of Oman’s Labour Law.

Required

“Of course, the ministry seeks to amend the conditions at these establishments, so that they comply with the provisions of the Labour Law. Therefore, violating companies are required to speed up their situation and work to achieve the required Omanisation rate, because a delay will cause termination of work permits for their employees. We emphasise that the decision will not affect any worker, as long as the institution is serious about correcting their situation and working in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Law,” Al Hadhrami said.

Different targets

Various sectors have different Omanisation targets, but the government wants all companies to hireOmanis first.

In mid-February, the ministry announced that it had taken action against 199 establishments employing 16,544 people for not hiring Omani nationals. The Governorate of Dhofar was home to the largest number of violating companies, with 78 establishments employing 2,360 workers raided by the MoM. Only 21 companies in Muscat were found in violation of Oman’s Labour Law. The companies raided by the ministry employed 6,918 people.

Raided

Some 27 companies, employing 797 workers in Ash Sharqiyah North, were raided, with 25 in Ash Sharqiyah South facing the same fate. In North Al Batinah, 18 establishments were raided, and 12 companies in South Al Batinah were found in violation of the Sultanate’s Omanisation laws.

In Buraimi, four companies were raided, followed by four in the Governorate of Ad Dakhiliyah. Only a single company in the Governorate of Adh Dhahirah was found in violation, and a total of four were raided in the Governorate of Al Wusta.

Labour Code

Al Hadhrami added: “According to Article 114 of the Labour Code, any employer who does not comply with the prescribed Omanisation rates shall be punished by a fine not less than OMR250 and not more than OMR500 for each Omani worker who is required to be appointed. The employer shall correct the percentage of Omanisation within six months from the date of discovery of the violation, and double the penalty if the violation is repeated.”