At a glance
- Oman has introduced a new penalty framework under Ministerial Decision No. 602/2025 targeting delays and non-compliance in expatriate work permits.
- Employers will be fined OMR10 per month for late renewals or registrations, capped at RO 500 per worker.
- Additional monthly penalties of OMR15 (individuals) and OMR20 (corporates) apply for mismanagement of workers’ legal status.
- Exemptions include employer death, serious illness, passport retention, bankruptcy, and support for vulnerable domestic worker employers.
- The framework retains incentives such as a 30% fee reduction for meeting Omanisation targets, while non-compliance doubles permit fees.
Oman’s Ministry of Labour has introduced a new regulatory framework under Ministerial Decision No. 602/2025, aimed at tightening compliance around expatriate work permits. The decision forms part of broader reforms to streamline labour governance and reinforce employer accountability.
Under the new rules, employers will be fined OMR10 per month for delays in renewing employment licences or registering worker details. These fines are capped at OMR500 per worker and calculated from either the worker’s arrival date or the expiry of their existing permit.
Further penalties target employers who fail to regularise a worker’s legal status—such as through repatriation or service transfer. Individual employers will be charged OMR15 monthly, while corporate entities face OMR20 monthly, both subject to the same OMR500 cap.
The regulation also outlines exemptions for specific humanitarian and administrative circumstances. These include:
- Employer death (up to one-year exemption).
- Worker illness (with Ministry of Health confirmation).
- Passport retention by authorities.
- Bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings.
- Worker imprisonment following a court ruling.
In addition, vulnerable groups hiring domestic workers, including persons with disabilities, elderly citizens, and low-income families, may qualify for full or partial fee exemptions, subject to verification by the Ministry of Social Development.
To encourage national employment, the framework maintains a 30% fee reduction for employers meeting Omanisation targets, while those falling short will see their work permit fees doubled.
This decision reflects Oman’s continued efforts to modernise its labour system, balance administrative efficiency with social welfare, and ensure fair treatment of both employers and workers.
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