Muscat: The Minister of Labour has issued decision No 452/2024, temporarily suspending permits for the employment of expatriate workers in specific professions for six months. The decision calls for the suspension of the issuance of trading permits for the employment of expatriate workers in certain professions based on the Labour Law issued by Royal Decree No 53/2023 and guidelines provided by the Ministry of Labour for trading permits as per the decision No 180/2022.
Article 1 states that the issuance of trading permits for the employment of non-Omani workers in private sector establishments for the professions listed in the attached annexe is suspended for six months.
Article 2 says notwithstanding the provisions of Article 1, permits may be issued for the employment of non-Omani workers in the professions listed in the annexe, provided that the request for renewal or transfer of services is submitted from within the Sultanate of Oman.
Article 3 says that this decision shall come into effect on September 1 and the authorities concerned are responsible for implementing its provisions. The professions include construction worker/general, cleaning worker/general buildings, loading and unloading worker, bricklayer, steel fixer, tailor/women's clothing/general, tailor/men's clothing/general, electrician/general electrical installations, waiter, painter, chef/general, electrician/home installations and barber.
Last month, to provide more jobs for citizens in the private sector, the Ministry of Labour listed 30 new professions where hiring expatriates will be prohibited. The ministry said all units of the state’s administrative apparatus and government companies should not deal with private sector establishments that do not adhere to the Omanisation targets.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has notified all contractors and suppliers who deal with it for various tenders regarding purchases and services to submit an electronic certificate issued by the Ministry of Labour. The certificates should prove that they are complying with requirements, including the Omanisation percentages approved by the government, provided that the certificate is valid for one month from the date of its issuance.
The certificate should be submitted when competing for government tenders and when requesting government services. The ministry added that construction and service tenders will be awarded to companies that offer a 100 per cent Omanisation rate in electricity, water, and maintenance services.
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