To promote its nationalisation drives across Oman’s various economic sectors, the Ministry of Labour has unveiled a new fee structure employers need to follow while hiring expatriate workers.
Hiring an expatriate in a top position under the new structure will cost companies OMR2,001, while the cost of the licence fee for a non-Omani hired in a mid-level position is OMR1,001.

Taking on board any expatriate working in a technical, skilled or specialised position will cost companies OMR601 per expatriate employee.

Revised expat hiring fees have also been rolled out for sectors such as animal husbandry, fisheries and agriculture.

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It will now cost companies OMR361 every time they wish to hire a foreign fisherman, while the fee for the first three non-Omani farm workers and/or animal breeders has been set at OMR201 per employee.
Companies will need to pay a hiring fee of OMR301 from the fourth employee onwards. Households and companies employing domestic workers from overseas will also need to observe a two-tiered fee system.

The fee for the first three domestic workers hired has been pegged to OMR141 per head. Should employers wish to increase the numbers of domestic workers they employ beyond that figure, they will be required to fork out OMR241 per worker.

Fees have also been attached to other ministry procedures concerning expatriate workers. Companies will need to pay OMR5 when their workers switch jobs, while updating a workers employment status and designation will also cost the same amount.

However, some exceptions have been made to owners of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). These are for “employers tasked with managing these companies, which are registered under the Public Authority for SME Development (Riyada) and insured by the Public Authority for Social Insurance (PASI),” said the Ministry of Labour. SMEs can benefit from these regulation for up to two years from the time of their establishment.

Hiring the first five non-Omani workers will cost an SME OMR101 per person, but bringing in up to another five, which could increase the total number of expatriates working there to 10, will cost OMR151 per head.

Should SMEs wish to bring in an expatriate worker to do a job currently reserved for Omanis, it will set them back OMR1,001.

“We have worked previously to understand the reality and challenges that exist presently in our labour market,” said Dr. Mahad bin Said Ba’owain, the Minister of Labour. “This also includes processes related to the training, operation, recruitment, and management operations in the country.

“We have therefore understood that that our current efforts will not end in a shortwhile, but we have now identified and recognised the problems that exist currently,” he added. “Through this, we were able to come up with an action plan that will be implemented during the year 2021.”

SOURCE: TIMESOFOMAN