We, Qaboos bin Said, the Sultan of Oman
after perusal of the Basic Statute of the State issued by Royal Decree 101/96,
and the Labour Law issued by Royal Decree 34/73 and its amendments,
and in pursuance of public interest,
have decreed as follows
Article I
The attached amendments are hereby made to the mentioned Labour Law.
Article II
This decree must be published in the Official Gazette, and comes into force from the date of its publication.
Issued on: 1 Dhu Al-Qa’dah 1419
Corresponding to: 17 February 1999
Qaboos bin Said
Sultan of Oman
Published in Official Gazette 642 issued on 1 March 1999.
Amendments to the Labour Law
First: The texts of articles 19, 21(a), and 69 of the Labour Law issued by Royal Decree 34/73 are hereby replaced with the following texts:
Article 19
(a) A non-Omani shall not practise work in the Sultanate except after obtaining a permit to do so from the ministry in accordance with the forms and procedures it prescribes. This permit must not be given except after the following conditions are met:
1. That he has previously obtained the initial approval of the ministry.
2. That he has entered the country legally, and fulfilled the conditions stipulated in the Foreigners Residency Law.
3. That he has the professional competence and qualifications needed by the country and there is no one among the people of the country who holds them, or if the number of them does not meet the need.
4. That he has a contract with an Omani employer or a foreign employer who has obtained the necessary permit from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
5. That he pays the fees determined by a decision issued by the minister based on the approval of the Council of Ministers.
(b) The minister may cancel the work permit granted to a foreigner if the public interest so requires.
(c) A decision by the minister must determine the occupations and jobs that non-Omanis are not permitted to practise and the cases in which the employment of non-professional foreign workers is permitted.
(d) An employer shall not employ a non-Omani worker before obtaining a permit to employ him.
Article 21(a)
Employers shall employ Omani workers to the widest possible extent. The minister may determine by a decision by him the percentage of Omani workers to foreigners in:
– Economic sectors.
– The activities carried out by each establishment separately according to its conditions and the availability of national manpower to meet its needs.
Article 69
It is not permitted to make the worker work for more than nine hours per day and a maximum of 48 hours per week, excluding the periods allocated for eating and rest.
In the month of Ramadan, working hours for Muslims are reduced to six hours per day and a maximum of 36 hours per week.
Second: Articles 22 and 39 of the Labour Law are hereby repealed.