24-05-2025
Know Oman: Oman's new Wage Protection Law guarantees timely salaries for private sector workers
Muscat: In a significant move to protect workers' rights and bring greater transparency to their salary payments, Oman has introduced a new mandatory system for all private sector employers.
Speaking to the Times of Oman, a representative of Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm, a leading law office in Oman, explained 'how the new Wage Protection System (WPS) will impact both companies and employees across the Sultanate. The system aims to ensure that every worker in the private sector is paid on time.
Employers are now required to pay salaries directly into employees' bank accounts within 03 days after the wage period ends.
This amount must match exactly what has been agreed in the employment contract,' said Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Zadjali, Chairman of Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm.
Under the new system, 'the Ministry of Labour will maintain a digital record of all salary payments and monitor employer compliance. The system will not only prevent delays and the manipulation of wages but also strengthen trust between workers and their employers,' the chairman said.
He added, however, not all workers are immediately included in the system, for example, if a worker has been newly hired and is still within the first 30 days of employment or if they are on unpaid leave, the employer is temporarily exempted from transferring their wage through the system.
'Similar exemptions apply to workers involved in unresolved disputes or those who have been suspended for reasons beyond the employer's control,' Al Zadjali said.
Another spokesperson of the law firm said that 'to deal with unique situations not already covered, a Special Committee will be formed to assess exemption requests from companies on a case-by-case basis. Also, employers who do not follow the new wage payment rules face strict administrative penalties.'
'The introduction of WPS is a strong signal to promote fair labour practices and ensuring all workers are treated with dignity,' the spokesperson said.
'The goal is to create a workplace culture where wages are not just a number but a right that must be respected, protected, and delivered without delay.' the message is clear.
In Oman, every wage matters. And now, with WPS, every payment will be watched, recorded and delivered as promised, the expert said.
