Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Ramadan 17, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Royal Directives key to improving business climate

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Muscat: In recent days, the Sultanate of Oman has announced several reforms to boost the confidence of the internal and local business community and attract more direct investment.


The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) said the Royal directives reflect the concern and insightful vision to improve the business environment and raise the competitiveness of the Sultanate among foreign investors.


The directives underline the importance of initiating urgent development projects that have a role in developing the economy of the governorates and each development project will be accompanied by a number of supporting projects.


The OCCI chairman said directives contribute to stimulating the business environment, increasing opportunities for private sector institutions and small and medium-sized enterprises.


Last week, to boost economic recovery and stimulate the real estate market, Dr. Khalfan bin Said al Shueili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, issued a decision allowing non-Omani investors to own a property in the Sultanate of Oman.


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In line with the Royal Directives, the Ministry of Labour on Sunday announced the cutting down of fees for expatriate workforce recruitment. The decision applies to those professions that can be replaced by national manpower and that are acceptable by job seekers with their various educational levels.


The Ministry of Labour has said that reduction of fees for licenses to bring in expatriate manpower in line with the type of professions that can be replaced by the national workforce and commensurate with job seekers at all educational levels, in implementation of the royal directives regarding the reduction of government services fees.


In October 2020, the government allowed expatriates who have stayed in the Sultanate of Oman for at least two years are allowed to own flats and offices in Muscat.


The ministry said it will provide incentive facilities to private sector institutions that achieve Omanisation rates in the three categories in which the professions have been classified.


In continuation to support small and medium enterprises, the Ministry decided to maintain the fees for licensing fees for the recruitment of non-Omani manpower, which were previously in force.


The decisions included reducing the fees for special work licenses to be between RO101 and 241, depending on the type of license.


New fees announced for expatriate work permits


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For companies committed to Omanization rate, the fees will be reduced by 30 percent. The new fees will be as follows;


The new fees for recruitment and renewal of expatriate workforce (commercial):


Category 1 fees reduced from RO 2001 to RO 301


Category 2 fees reduced from RO 601-1001 to RO 251


Category 3 fees reduced from RO 301-361 to RO 201


In case of abidance by the Omanization rate, the fees will be reduced by 30 percent.


Category 1 fees reduced from RO 2001 to RO 211


Category 2 fees reduced from RO 601-1001 to RO 176


Category 3 fees reduced from RO 301-361 to RO 141 -


The new fees for recruitment and renewal of expatriate workforce (non-commercial):


Domestic workers (from 1 to 3 workers) RO 141 RO 101


Four or more workers: RO 241 to RO 141


Farmers and animal breeders: from 1 to 3 workers: from RO 201 to RO 141


Farmers and animal breeders more 4 or more: RO 301 to RO 241


Reduced fees for issuance and renewal of recruitment permits for the non-Omani workforce in SMEs (holders of Riyada card)


From 1 to 5 workers: RO 101


From 6 to 10 workers: RO 151 (provided employing at least 1 Omani national)


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