Deadline nears to correct status of expat workers in Oman
What are exemptions?
As part of its efforts to regularize workforce conditions and ensure the rights of individuals and employers, and with the approval of the Honorable Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Labor announced a package of waivers and financial settlements totaling more than RO60 million in January this year:
First: Cancellation of all fines and financial dues owed to the Ministry for expired labor cards that have remained inactive for over seven calendar years. Individuals and employers will also be exempt from paying recorded financial obligations (the cost of a worker's repatriation ticket) for the year 2017 and earlier.
Second: Cancellation of labor cards that have remained unused for a period exceeding 10 years, provided their holders have not requested any related services. These cards may, however, be reactivated under specific conditions (e.g., renewal requests, departure, service transfer, or the registration of a work abandonment report).
Third: Waiver of financial obligations recorded against liquidated companies, provided that workers are either repatriated or their services are transferred.
Fourth: The grace period was announced to regularize the status of workers and employers. During this period, fines associated with labor cards will be waived, subject to the following conditions:
Renewal of the license (labor card) and payment of renewal fees for the next two years.
Cancellation of work abandonment reports.
Transfer of the worker's services.
Payment of the repatriation ticket cost by the employer or worker in cases of the worker's final departure.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Muscat Daily
11 hours ago
- Muscat Daily
Oman's MoL pushes labour amnesty deadline to Dec 31
By OUR CORRESPONDENT Muscat – In response to public and institutional requests, Ministry of Labour (MoL) has announced an extension of the status correction period for workers and employers till December 31, 2025. In a circular issued on Monday, MoL confirmed that the decision follows numerous appeals from individuals, employers and workers across the sultanate seeking additional time to complete legal procedures. The original deadline was set for July 31. 'This extension is aimed at allowing the largest possible number of beneficiaries to finalise their legal requirements,' the ministry stated, stressing that this will be the final grace period. It urged all concerned parties to take advantage of the extension and rectify their status in accordance with the law. The ministry directed all relevant departments and agencies to take necessary steps to implement the new deadline in line with public interest. The amnesty initiative, introduced in January and approved by the Council of Ministers, includes a set of exemptions and waivers exceeding RO60mn. Key measures include cancellation of fines for expired labour cards inactive for more than seven years and exemption from repatriation ticket costs for workers who left before 2017. Labour cards unused for over ten years will be cancelled, though these can be reactivated under certain conditions such as submitting renewal requests, transferring services or reporting work abandonment. Companies that were officially liquidated can also have financial obligations waived provided their employees are repatriated or transferred to other employers. During the amnesty period, which began on February 1, fines associated with labour cards will be dropped if certain conditions are met. These include renewing the cards, paying fees for two years and cancelling existing work abandonment reports. MoL reiterated that the amnesty extension aims to create a balanced, legally compliant labour market, protect the rights of all parties and improve regulatory oversight.
Times of Oman
18 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Oman extends labour status correction period until December
Muscat: The Ministry of Labour (MoL) has announced a five-month extension of the grace period for correcting labour status, pushing the deadline from the previously announced date of July 31, 2025, to December 31, 2025. In a statement, the Ministry explained that this decision was made in response to numerous requests from individuals, employers, and workers seeking more time to complete the necessary legal procedures. The extension aims to provide the largest possible number of beneficiaries with an opportunity to regularise their status. The MoL stressed the importance for all concerned parties to utilize this "additional and final grace period" to rectify their status in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations. The Ministry has directed all relevant departments and entities to take the necessary measures to ensure the smooth implementation of this extension in line with the public interest. This decision means that individuals and companies now have until the end of the year to complete procedures such as renewing expired labour cards, transferring worker services, or settling other outstanding obligations without penalty. The Ministry has made it clear that this is a final extension, and non-compliance after December 31, 2025, will lead to legal and administrative consequences.
Observer
19 hours ago
- Observer
Deadline nears to correct status of expat workers in Oman
The Ministry of Labour urged individuals, employers, and workers to correct their legal status by July 31, 2025, as no requests submitted after the deadline will be considered. What are exemptions? As part of its efforts to regularize workforce conditions and ensure the rights of individuals and employers, and with the approval of the Honorable Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Labor announced a package of waivers and financial settlements totaling more than RO60 million in January this year: First: Cancellation of all fines and financial dues owed to the Ministry for expired labor cards that have remained inactive for over seven calendar years. Individuals and employers will also be exempt from paying recorded financial obligations (the cost of a worker's repatriation ticket) for the year 2017 and earlier. Second: Cancellation of labor cards that have remained unused for a period exceeding 10 years, provided their holders have not requested any related services. These cards may, however, be reactivated under specific conditions (e.g., renewal requests, departure, service transfer, or the registration of a work abandonment report). Third: Waiver of financial obligations recorded against liquidated companies, provided that workers are either repatriated or their services are transferred. Fourth: The grace period was announced to regularize the status of workers and employers. During this period, fines associated with labor cards will be waived, subject to the following conditions: Renewal of the license (labor card) and payment of renewal fees for the next two years. Cancellation of work abandonment reports. Transfer of the worker's services. Payment of the repatriation ticket cost by the employer or worker in cases of the worker's final departure.
