MUSCAT: To ensure timely disbursal of wages and protection of labour rights, employers are required to transfer employees’ salary to authorised local banks within seven days from the due date.
This is the key provision of the government’s newly new wage regulations to enhance transparency within the private sector. The government’s actions, based on the Labour Law (Royal Decree 35/2003), the establishment of the Ministry of Labour (Royal Decree 89/2020), and relevant ministerial decisions (222/2013 and 541/2013), demonstrate its commitment to fostering a just and equitable work environment, said experts.
The introduction of the mandatory online Wage Protection System (WPS) is to secure and streamline wage disbursements. It enables private sector employees to receive their wages directly into their designated bank accounts. By ensuring timely and accurate payments, the system aligns with the terms specified in the employees’ contracts, promoting financial stability and trust between employers and workers.
This process is facilitated through the user-friendly salary information file of the WPS, simplifying and expediting wage disbursements.
To ensure effective implementation and compliance, the Inspection Department’s Wages Protection Department will oversee the online system, monitoring wage disbursements in the private sector. By diligently enforcing the regulations, this dedicated team aims to guarantee that employees receive their entitled earnings and that employers fulfill their payment obligations.
Employers are further obliged to promptly update the ministry of any changes to employees’ wages, ensuring that the registered wages accurately reflect the actual amounts received.
While the WPS is mandatory, a few exceptions are recognized. These exceptions include cases of labour disputes leading to work cessation, voluntary termination of employment without legal justification, employment of new workers within the initial 30 days, and employees on unpaid leave.
Non-compliance with the newly implemented regulations may result in administrative penalties. Initially, violators will receive a warning, followed by the suspension of services related to preliminary work permits. Repeated violations may incur an administrative fine of RO 50, with subsequent offenses facing doubled fines.
Financial and administrative expert Khaled al Suleimani emphasized the significance of the Wage Protection System (WPS), underscoring its role as a joint online platform between the Ministry of Labour and the Central Bank of Oman. With insights gained through the WPS, the Ministry of Labour will proactively addresses potential delays, ensure timely wage payments and reduce the likelihood of labour disputes and work stoppages, he said.
The introduction of the WPS is a notable advancement in Oman’s ongoing efforts to safeguard workers’ rights and establish an equitable workplace. By meticulously monitoring wage disbursements and imposing measures against non-compliant employers, the WPS plays a crucial role in fostering a stable and highly productive workforce, Al Suleimani said.
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