Royal Decree 52/2023 Promulgating the Social Protection Law

Arabic

We, Haitham bin Tarik, the Sultan of Oman

after perusal of the Basic Statute of the State,

Royal Decree 50/80 Establishing Petroleum Development Oman Limited Liability Company,

Royal Decree 86/82 Adopting the System of Pensions and End of Service Gratuity in the Sultan’s Armed Forces,

the Social Security Law promulgated by Royal Decree 87/84,

the Law on Pensions and End of Service Gratuity for Omani Government Employees promulgated by Royal Decree 26/86,

the Social Insurance Law promulgated by Royal Decree 72/91,

Royal Decree 31/96 Determining the Rules Governing the Investment of the Funds of the Public Authority for Social Insurance and Pension Funds,

the Law on Pensions and End of Service Gratuity for Omani Employees of the Diwan of Royal Court promulgated by Royal Decree 86/96,

Royal Decree 49/98 Promulgating the System of Pensions and Gratuity for the Personnel of the Royal Guard of Oman,

the Law of Pensions and End of Service Gratuity for the Personnel of Royal Oman Police and the Constitution of the Royal Oman Police Pension Fund promulgated by Royal Decree 2/2000,

the  System of Social Insurance of Omanis Working Abroad and Their Equivalent promulgated by Royal Decree 32/2000,

the Law of the Service and System of Pensions and End of Service Gratuity for the Personnel of the Royal Office promulgated by Royal Decree 94/2000,

the Banking Law promulgated by Royal Decree 114/2000,

the Law of Pensions and End of Service Gratuity for the Personnel of the Ministry of Defence and the Sultan's Armed Forces promulgated by Royal Decree 3/2002,

the Law of Pensions and End of Service Gratuity for the Employees of the Internal Security Service promulgated by Royal Decree 29/2003,

Royal Decree 32/2003 Determining the Competences of the Ministry of Social Development and Adopting Its Organisational Structure,

the Labour Law promulgated by Royal Decree 35/2003,

the Civil Service Law promulgated by Royal Decree 120/2004,

Royal Decree 5/2006 regarding the Application of the Unified System to Extend Insurance Protection for Nationals of the States of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf Working in States Other than Their State,

the System of Social Insurance for Self-Employed Omanis and Their Equivalent promulgated by Royal Decree 44/2013,

the Employment Security System promulgated by Royal Decree 82/2020,

Royal Decree 15/2021 regarding the Application of the Unified System to Extend Insurance Protection for Military Personnel That Are Nationals of the States of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf Working in a Member State of the Council Other than Their State,

Royal Decree 33/2021 regarding the Systems for Pension and Social Protection,

the System of the Social Protection Fund promulgated by Royal Decree 50/2023,

and the System of the Military and Security Services Pension Fund promulgated by Royal Decree 51/2023,

and after presentation to Majlis Oman,

and in pursuance of public interest,

have decreed as follows

Article I

The provisions of the attached Social Protection Law shall apply.

Article II

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Social Protection Fund shall issue the executive regulation of the attached law within a period not exceeding 6 (six) months from the date of issuance of this decree, and shall also issue the decisions necessary for the implementation of the provisions of the attached law. Until they are issued, the systems, regulations, and decisions in force continue to operate to the degree that they do not contradict with the provisions of the attached law.

Article III

The text of article I of the aforementioned Royal Decree 15/2021 is hereby replaced with the following text:

The provisions of the attached Unified System to Extend Insurance Protection for Military Personnel That Are Nationals of the States of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf Working in a Member State of the Council Other than Their State shall apply.

Article IV[1]

All provisions on pensions, gratuity, and grants stipulated in the laws and systems issued by the aforementioned Royal Decrees 26/86, 72/91, 86/96, and 94/2000 are hereby repealed.

The aforementioned laws and systems promulgated by Royal Decrees 86/82, 87/84, 49/98, 2/2000, 32/2000, 3/2002, 29/2003, 44/2013 and 82/2020 are also hereby repealed.

In exception to this, the provisions relating to the end-of-service gratuity or grant disbursed by employers shall continue to operate.

The aforementioned Royal Decree 31/96 is hereby repealed from the date of entry into force of the investment regulation issued in accordance with the provisions of the attached law.

Articles II and IV of the aforementioned Royal Decree 15/2021 are also hereby repealed.

Article V

All that is contrary to this decree and the attached law, or in conflict with their provisions, is hereby repealed.

Article VI

This decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and comes into force on 1 January 2024, with the exception of the following:

1. Articles 72, 75, 76, 77, 83, and 84 of the attached law, which come into force on the day following the date of its publication.

2. The provisions of the branch of insurance against work injuries and occupational diseases for non-Omani workers of the attached law, which come into force after 3 (three) years from the date of the issuance of this decree.

3. Chapter six of part three of the attached law, which comes into force after 2 (two) years from the date
of the issuance of this decree.

4. Chapter seven of part three of the attached law, which comes into force one year after the date of the issuance of this decree.

5. Article 139(1) of the attached law, which comes into force from the date specified by the Board of Directors of the Social Protection Fund, not exceeding 3 (three) years from the date of the issuance of this decree.

Issued on: 1 Muharram 1445
Corresponding to: 19 July 2023

Haitham bin Tarik
Sultan of Oman