What are main issues of expats in Oman handled by OHRC?
According to the OHRC annual report, there were 11 cases related to the payment of non-payment of wages of domestic workers, nine cases each related to the non-provision of travel tickets, five cases related to transfer to a new employer and one case of grievance against notice of leaving work.
On January 22, 2024, OHRC received a complaint from a domestic worker regarding the employer's refusal to hand over her passport and personal belongings so that she could return to her country. The Monitoring and Complaints Department subsequently contacted the employer, and the worker was able to get back her passport, receive her monthly salary, and return to her home country.
On April 24, 2024, the Monitoring and Complaints Department settled two complaints it received from two female workers. (One of them refused to renew her employment contract with her employer, and the other was denied her monthly wages. This enabled the two workers to obtain their monthly wage rights, retrieve their passports, and provide them with tickets to return to their home country.
In another context, in May 2024, OHRC received two complaints regarding workers. One related to her request to receive her monthly wages and return to her home country, and the other requested to transfer her work residency to a new employer due to the previous employer's failure to pay her monthly wages.
Following this, and after investigation and research, it became clear that the two workers had not received their monthly wages. The employer was summoned regarding the request to transfer the worker to another employer, and the matter was settled by paying the monthly wages and transferring the worker to a new employer. The other worker was enabled to return to her home country after receiving all the necessary documents and monthly wages.
On June 11, 2024, OHRC received a complaint from a domestic worker from the sub-continent who was placed in a shelter affiliated with the Ministry of Labor based on a notice of abstention from the employer, despite the latter handing the worker over to the domestic worker recruitment office. This occurred due to a financial dispute between the employer and the domestic worker recruitment office.
OHRC contacted the Ministry of Labor, and the worker was released. The worker was also informed of the procedures for filing a compensation claim for damages resulting from the harmful act committed against her.
On July 17, 2024, OHRC received a complaint from an Indian worker stating that he worked for a company and that his employment contract was still valid.
He wished to transfer his services from his current workplace to another branch of the company, but the employer rejected his request and suspended him.
The Monitoring and Complaints Department immediately contacted the company's management, and the worker was reinstated and began working at the branch to which he wished to transfer.
The committee received a complaint from an Indian worker, stating that he worked as a travel agent for a company.
However, after two months of work with the company, he was subjected to mistreatment by his employer, who denied him his monthly salary and threatened to deport him to his country.
He requested assistance in receiving his monthly salary and enabling him to transfer his residency to another employer.
The Monitoring and Complaints Department contacted the employer, and the worker's case was settled, with him receiving all his monthly dues and transferring his residency to another company.
The committee received a complaint from a woman, stating that she had been working in a private clinic as a radiology technician, but that her employment contract had expired some time ago.
She informed her employer of her unwillingness to renew the contract and to allow her to return to her country, in addition to not paying her overdue salaries.
However, the employer refused to terminate her services, hand over her passport, or provide her with a return ticket, claiming that he wanted to renew the employment contract.
The employer did not do so.
OHRC received a complaint from a Bangladeshi worker on October 10, 2024, stating that he worked for a company as a public building cleaner, but that his contract had expired some time ago. He had informed the employer that he did not wish to renew the contract and that he was unable to do so.
The worker's request to return to his country was rejected, but the employer refused to terminate his services, return his passport, or provide him with a return ticket. He claimed that he wanted to renew his employment contract and that he had not received his overdue salaries. OHRC contacted the employer, and the worker's passport was returned, a return ticket was provided, and all his financial dues were paid.
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Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
What are main issues of expats in Oman handled by OHRC?
The few complaints handled by the Oman Human Rights Commission (OHRC) related to monthly wages, transfer to a new employer, passport recovery, and the provision of travel tickets. It managed to resolve some of them by talking to the concerned stakeholders. According to the OHRC annual report, there were 11 cases related to the payment of non-payment of wages of domestic workers, nine cases each related to the non-provision of travel tickets, five cases related to transfer to a new employer and one case of grievance against notice of leaving work. On January 22, 2024, OHRC received a complaint from a domestic worker regarding the employer's refusal to hand over her passport and personal belongings so that she could return to her country. The Monitoring and Complaints Department subsequently contacted the employer, and the worker was able to get back her passport, receive her monthly salary, and return to her home country. On April 24, 2024, the Monitoring and Complaints Department settled two complaints it received from two female workers. (One of them refused to renew her employment contract with her employer, and the other was denied her monthly wages. This enabled the two workers to obtain their monthly wage rights, retrieve their passports, and provide them with tickets to return to their home country. In another context, in May 2024, OHRC received two complaints regarding workers. One related to her request to receive her monthly wages and return to her home country, and the other requested to transfer her work residency to a new employer due to the previous employer's failure to pay her monthly wages. Following this, and after investigation and research, it became clear that the two workers had not received their monthly wages. The employer was summoned regarding the request to transfer the worker to another employer, and the matter was settled by paying the monthly wages and transferring the worker to a new employer. The other worker was enabled to return to her home country after receiving all the necessary documents and monthly wages. On June 11, 2024, OHRC received a complaint from a domestic worker from the sub-continent who was placed in a shelter affiliated with the Ministry of Labor based on a notice of abstention from the employer, despite the latter handing the worker over to the domestic worker recruitment office. This occurred due to a financial dispute between the employer and the domestic worker recruitment office. OHRC contacted the Ministry of Labor, and the worker was released. The worker was also informed of the procedures for filing a compensation claim for damages resulting from the harmful act committed against her. On July 17, 2024, OHRC received a complaint from an Indian worker stating that he worked for a company and that his employment contract was still valid. He wished to transfer his services from his current workplace to another branch of the company, but the employer rejected his request and suspended him. The Monitoring and Complaints Department immediately contacted the company's management, and the worker was reinstated and began working at the branch to which he wished to transfer. The committee received a complaint from an Indian worker, stating that he worked as a travel agent for a company. However, after two months of work with the company, he was subjected to mistreatment by his employer, who denied him his monthly salary and threatened to deport him to his country. He requested assistance in receiving his monthly salary and enabling him to transfer his residency to another employer. The Monitoring and Complaints Department contacted the employer, and the worker's case was settled, with him receiving all his monthly dues and transferring his residency to another company. The committee received a complaint from a woman, stating that she had been working in a private clinic as a radiology technician, but that her employment contract had expired some time ago. She informed her employer of her unwillingness to renew the contract and to allow her to return to her country, in addition to not paying her overdue salaries. However, the employer refused to terminate her services, hand over her passport, or provide her with a return ticket, claiming that he wanted to renew the employment contract. The employer did not do so. OHRC received a complaint from a Bangladeshi worker on October 10, 2024, stating that he worked for a company as a public building cleaner, but that his contract had expired some time ago. He had informed the employer that he did not wish to renew the contract and that he was unable to do so. The worker's request to return to his country was rejected, but the employer refused to terminate his services, return his passport, or provide him with a return ticket. He claimed that he wanted to renew his employment contract and that he had not received his overdue salaries. OHRC contacted the employer, and the worker's passport was returned, a return ticket was provided, and all his financial dues were paid.
Observer
4 days ago
- Observer
Over 1,000 human rights cases received in 2024
MUSCAT, AUG 11 Oman Human Rights Commission (OHRC) received and documented a total of 1,006 cases in 2024, including 47 complaints and 22 reports, while 937 cases were provided with legal support. These cases spanned various civil, political, economic, social, cultural, environmental and developmental rights, as well as the rights of vulnerable groups. This was revealed during a press conference held on Monday by Oman Human Rights Commission, which highlighted its key efforts in 2024, including monitoring and receiving complaints, responding to regional and international reports, and organising internal and external activities. Addressing the media on Monday, Dr Rashid bin Hamad al Balushi, Chairman of Oman Human Rights Commission, said that the commission continues its national role in protecting and promoting human rights, guided by its mandate and the principles enshrined in the Basic Law of the State and international conventions to which Oman is a signatory. He affirmed the commission's commitment to enhancing its operational mechanisms and strengthening its role as an independent national institution dedicated to fostering a culture of human rights, citizenship, justice and human dignity in Oman. Dr Al Balushi said that the commission's vision is to serve as an effective national platform supporting and protecting human rights across all segments of society and institutions. Its mission is to instil a human rights culture, promote its practice and safeguard these rights in accordance with local and international laws and principles. He expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the Royal Oman Police in upholding human rights, particularly in services provided to inmates and detainees. During field visits to the central prison, the commission verified that health, educational, legal, sports, training, recreational and hobby-related services met appropriate standards. During the media conference, he discussed the National Human Rights Strategy and monitoring its implementation with all relevant human rights bodies. Developing the strategy requires establishing a comprehensive framework that promotes and protects human rights in the Sultanate of Oman, in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law of the State, the international conventions and agreements to which Oman has acceded, and applicable laws, as this is the ultimate goal of the Omani Human Rights Commission. During the current year, the committee, as part of the strategy project, organised workshops to analyse the current status of the strategy. These workshops covered a range of fundamental rights, including civil and political rights, economic and social rights, environmental and cultural rights and the freedom to participate in public life. They also focused on vulnerable groups, such as women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities. The strategy project aligns with the national directives of Oman Vision 2040. Direct coordination was undertaken with the Vision Implementation Follow-up Unit and the Ministry of Economy to ensure the alignment of the strategy with comprehensive development plans. The chairman confirmed that the committee is studying reports and communicating with relevant authorities to address them according to mechanisms that ensure an effective and rapid response. The committee also held a celebration on the occasion of International Human Rights Day under the theme "Pillar of the Nation: Sustainable Steps to Protect and Promote the Rights of Older Persons." The celebration focused on appreciating the role of older persons and their contributions to building society, highlighting Oman's efforts to protect their rights, ensuring their access to necessary services, and enhancing their social standing through legislation and laws that protect them from neglect or abuse. The celebration also aimed to raise community awareness about the rights of older persons and ensure their active participation in various aspects of life. In a statement to the Observer on the progress made by the committee in caring for the elderly in foster families, Dr Rashid said: "Regarding the rights of the elderly in the Sultanate of Oman, the committee visited the elderly centre in the Wilayat of Al Rustaq and organised a special symposium on the services provided to the elderly in which issued a set of recommendations. Oman is distinguished by its policies that preserve the social fabric, and fostering families are one of the measures that preserve society's cohesion and social integrity." Furthermore, the committee conducted a number of field visits to the Central Prison and the detention departments of the Royal Oman Police to assess the services provided to inmates and detainees and ensure that they are provided in accordance with a level befitting human dignity. Within the framework of the 2024 amnesty for inmates, a number of Royal orders were issued ordering the release of a group of inmates from the Central Prison convicted in various cases. The total number of inmates included in the Royal amnesty reached approximately 704 inmates, both citizens and residents. In the area of freedom of expression, the committee noted that Oman has advanced 18 places in the 2024 Press Freedom Index, issued by Reporters Without Borders, compared to 2023. This index assesses 180 countries annually and uses five criteria to assess press freedom, including the political context, the legal framework, the economic context, the social and cultural context and safety. While for the healthcare field, the committee also held several field meetings with institutions working in the field of the right to healthcare, including the Royal Hospital and Khoula Hospital, to discuss challenges and opportunities in improving the quality of services and ensuring accessibility for all, especially persons with disabilities. It also conducted a field visit to the Duqm Industrial Zone, examining the services and labour care provided to workers in the Duqm Special Economic Zone. It examined adherence to protection standards and a suitable work environment, and the general compliance of the facilities used with occupational safety and health measures and international standards for workers' housing. The committee fulfilled its role in protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities. It monitored and studied warning signs for the blind in public places. The committee submitted the results of the study to Muscat Municipality and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, and received a response from Muscat Municipality stating that the study would be taken into account and included in the municipality's future projects. The committee also received a response from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning stating that special standards would be included within the national urban planning standards contained in the outcomes of the National Urban Development Strategy. The study will also be included in the building requirements and specifications guide in the Sultanate of Oman. In the international area, OHRC expressed its observations on the US annual report on the human rights situation in the Sultanate of Oman for 2023. The report addressed a number of issues. The report aimed to verify the topics and reports received and provide the commission's observations on them in accordance with the laws and regulations in force in the Sultanate of Oman, as well as the mechanisms and methods followed by the commission in this regard. Also, it responded to a newspaper article in BBC Africa Eye titled "How a Malawian WhatsApp group helped rescue women trafficked to Oman." The report included cases of more than 50 Malawian women who were trafficked to the Sultanate of Oman to work under conditions resembling slavery. Dr Al Balushi stated that the commission responded to several international governmental and non-governmental reports, including Amnesty International's 2022/2023 Annual Report on human rights in Oman, the US State Department's 2023 Annual Report on human rights in Oman, and its 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report, which assessed Oman's anti-trafficking efforts in 2022. The OHRC is committed to preparing a parallel report submitted to the Arab Charter on Human Rights Committee, following the methodology followed in preparing reports for both the Omani Human Rights Commission and the Arab Charter on Human Rights Committee. In preparing this report, a consultative approach was followed with relevant civil society institutions, stakeholders and partner organisations. During the months of October and November 2024, the Committee met with five civil society institutions related to the topics of the report, namely: the Omani Women's Association, Muscat, the Omani Journalists Association, the General Federation of Oman Workers, the Children First Association, and the Omani Association for Persons with Disabilities.
Observer
5 days ago
- Observer
Urban planning standards in Oman will include signage for persons with disabilities: OHRC
Muscat: The Oman Human Rights Committee chaired its annual report on Monday, during an interactive meeting held in the presence of its chairman, Dr. Rashid bin Hamad al Balushi. During the meeting, Al Balushi said that to promote the rights of persons with disabilities, signage designated for the blind has been identified and studied, and this matter has been included in the standards for future urban planning. Rights of persons with disabilities "To enforce and implement the rights of persons with disabilities and to expand its role in protecting and promoting their rights, OHRC monitored and studied the signage for the blind in public places. The commission submitted the results of the study to Muscat Municipality and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, and received a response from Muscat Municipality stating that the study would be taken into account and included in future municipal projects. The commission also received a response from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning stating that special standards will be included within the national urban planning standards under the National Urban Development Strategy. The study will also be included in the construction requirements and specifications guide in the Sultanate of Oman." He said that 1,006 issues were addressed in 2024, including 47 complaints and 22 monitored cases, and 937 instances of human rights support covering civil, political, economic, social, and environmental rights. The Sultanate of Oman achieved an 18-rank improvement in press freedom for the year 2024, according to the report by "Reporters Without Borders," compared to 2023. OHRC said it conducted regular field visits to prisons, health centers, and educational institutions to assess the conditions of inmates and the services provided, and to ensure respect for human rights in them. A number of lectures and workshops were organized in schools, universities, and government institutions to promote awareness of human rights values and the importance of respecting them in daily life. The total number of prisoners covered by the royal pardon was 704 during the year 2024. As the committee deals with reports of human trafficking, it investigates with relevant authorities to ensure combating this phenomenon and protection victims under national and international legislation. The "Developing a Human Rights Strategy" project is at the forefront of the Omani Human Rights Commission's mandate. It aims to establish a comprehensive framework that enhances the protection of human rights in the Sultanate of Oman, in line with the Basic Law of the State and international agreements.
