MUSCAT: The Social Protection Fund marks a new milestone when it launches new norms on Sunday to safeguard the income of insured employees during illness or approved special leave. By ensuring wage continuity during such periods, the scheme aims to strengthen financial security for workers and their families while reinforcing employment stability across the public and private sectors.
Malik al Harthy, Director-General of Benefits at the Social Protection Fund, said the programme provides comprehensive insurance coverage ensuring continuity of both social protection and income during periods of temporary work interruption.
Under the new framework, employers will continue paying employees their full salary during the first seven days of certified sick leave. Beginning on the eighth day, the Social Protection Fund will reimburse employers for eligible wages and social insurance contributions according to a graduated compensation schedule for a maximum of 182 days in a calendar year.
Employees will receive compensation equivalent to 75 per cent of their comprehensive wage from the eighth to the twenty-first day of sick leave. The replacement rate then decreases to 50 per cent from days 22 to 35, before reaching 35 per cent from day 36 through day 182, which represents the maximum annual coverage under the programme.
In addition to sick leave benefits, it also provides full wage replacement for several categories of special leave granted under labour laws. Employees will be entitled to three days of paid leave upon marriage, three days following the death of a parent, grandparent, brother or sister, two days following the death of an uncle or aunt, and ten days upon the death of a spouse or one of their children.
The scheme also recognises bereavement leave for widows. Muslim women will receive 130 days of paid leave following the death of a husband, while non-Muslim women will be entitled to 14 days beginning from the date of death, in accordance with the applicable legal provisions.
Another key feature of the programme is the introduction of paid leave for employees accompanying close family members for medical treatment. The benefit covers up to 30 days per year when accompanying a spouse, parent, son, daughter, brother or sister. Employees will receive 100 per cent of their comprehensive wage for the first 15 days and 50 per cent of the wage for the remaining eligible period.
The Fund confirmed that the insurance branch applies to all Omani employees working in the civil, military and security sectors, including individuals employed under temporary contracts, training contracts and retired persons who have returned to employment. Coverage also extends to non-Omani employees working in government entities and private sector establishments that fall under the labour laws.
To finance the programme, employers will contribute one per cent of each employee’s comprehensive wage on a monthly basis without a wage ceiling. The Social Protection Fund will issue monthly contribution notices detailing registered wages and the value of contributions due from each employer.
Employers will be able to submit compensation claims and complete settlements electronically through the Fund’s online portal beginning on August 1, 2026. The first settlement covering claims related to July will be processed during August, enabling employers to recover eligible payments made under the new scheme.
Al Harthy urged employers to ensure that employee records, wage information and insurance data remain accurate and up to date, stressing that contribution calculations and benefit entitlements will be based on the information submitted to the Fund.
By extending insurance coverage to temporary work interruptions arising from illness and exceptional personal circumstances, the initiative is expected to strengthen social security, improve workforce resilience and contribute to higher standards of living in line with the national aspirations of Oman Vision 2040.
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