Muscat: In a move aimed at supporting agricultural productivity during the peak cultivation and harvest periods, the Ministry of Labour, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, has introduced a temporary labour transfer service for agricultural workers in Dhofar Governorate's al Najd area.
The initiative establishes a regulated mechanism that enables eligible farmers to temporarily utilise agricultural workers during seasonal demand, while ensuring compliance with labour regulations and safeguarding workers' legal rights.
The service has been approved through cooperation between the Ministry of Labour's Directorate General of Labour in Dhofar Governorate and the Directorate General of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources in Dhofar, providing a structured framework to facilitate workforce mobility during the agricultural season.
Under the scheme, the temporary transfer period has been set at one month for the cultivation season and up to two months during the harvest season. The service is exclusively available to farmers operating in the al Najd area of Dhofar Governorate.
To benefit from the programme, farmers are required to first submit an application to the Directorate of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources in Wilayat Thumrait. Applicants must specify the crop to be cultivated and the area under cultivation, while providing supporting documents including proof of land ownership or a valid agricultural usufruct contract, a valid agricultural holding certificate and a copy of the well permit.
Following approval from the agriculture authorities, applicants must complete the remaining procedures with the Directorate General of Labour in Dhofar by submitting the endorsed application together with proof of land ownership or a valid agricultural usufruct agreement.
The ministry said there are a number of conditions governing the temporary transfer of workers. According to the ministry, agricultural workers may not be transferred to occupations outside those authorised under their work permits, nor may they be moved from agricultural permits to commercial work permits, except in specific cases where the worker is already employed by the same employer or falls within approved occupational classifications.
Additional conditions stipulate that workers must have completed at least three months with their current employer, have at least three months remaining on their work permit, and hold an active employment status at the time of transfer. The number of approved transfer requests is also capped at two annually for the cultivation season and two for the harvest season.
Officials said the initiative is intended to streamline seasonal labour management, enhance support for farmers and contribute to sustaining agricultural production in one of Oman's key farming regions through clear procedures and well-defined regulatory controls.
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