Latest news with #RO600
Muscat Daily
03-06-2025
- Muscat Daily
Nakhal court jails expat business owner over failure to fulfil contract
Nakhal – The Primary Court in Nakhal has sentenced the owner of a commercial establishment to one year in prison and ordered his deportation after convicting him of failing to fulfil a furniture installation contract. The case began when the Consumer Protection Department in Barka received a complaint from a customer who had contracted the establishment to customise and instal sofas for his home. The agreed cost was RO600, with a completion deadline of three months. However, the establishment failed to deliver the items within the stipulated period, despite repeated assurances. With no resolution in sight, the consumer escalated the matter to authorities. After attempts to reach an amicable settlement failed, the case was referred to the Public Prosecution, which launched an investigation and forwarded it to the court. During the trial, the court found the defendant guilty of a commercial misdemeanour and handed down a one-year jail sentence. It also ordered the deportation of the business owner following the completion of the prison term. Additionally, the court directed the defendant to pay RO500 in civil compensation to the complainant. The Consumer Protection Authority has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding consumer rights and taking strict legal action against violators of the law.
Observer
16-03-2025
- Business
- Observer
Another deadline nears for street taxis to join firms
Muscat: The Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology (MTCIT) has said that all Orange and White taxis should be part of the licensed companies from April 1. Individual taxi operators can join OTaxi, Tasleem, Marhaba, Oman Taxi, Hala, and Taxi Muscat, which operate via mobile applications. The government has been determined to improve and raise the level of taxi services in the country. As of January 2025, there are 28,241 registered taxis in the Sultanate, and several of them operate under companies. Speaking to the Observer, Eng. Khamis bin Mohammed al Shamakhi, Undersecretary for Transport, said, "We focus a lot on streamlining taxi services as part of our plans to improve public transport, and the main objective is to ensure that all taxis should be metered (even orange and white street taxis ) through applications." He said that there have been challenges, but progress has been made on that front. "Today, we have eight app-based taxi companies operating in the country." The MTCIT has been giving extended grace period for street taxis to join the above-mentioned companies as the initial deadline was January 1, 2024. The MTCIT planned to streamline street Orange and White taxis in the country, and guidelines stipulate that to practice taxi activity, a light driving license must be 3 years old from the date of issuance, and the operator's monthly salary must not exceed RO600 if an employee is in the private sector. The age must not be less than 21 years and not more than 60 years. One-year extensions can be given based on a medical report from accredited health institutions indicating his ability to drive a taxi. It is also required that the age of the taxi vehicle must not exceed 7 years from the date of the year of manufacture to carry out operations at airports, ports, and hotels while the age of the taxi vehicles should not exceed 10 years from the date of the year of manufacture to practice the activity in the public places and commercial centers.
