Muscat: The fifth edition of the Government Forum to Combat Human Trafficking in the Middle East was launched in Muscat on Wednesday to create a unified approach to combat the problem.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs and Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking ( NCCHT), said that the Sultanate of Oman has taken many measures to protect workers from exposure to exploitation or human trafficking, including issuing the new labor law issued via Royal Decree 53/2023.
He said that human rights conventions are universal, and the world must implement them with justice and equality.
"Unfortunately, this is not what we see on the ground now. What is currently happening to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in terms of killing, starvation, and displacement by the Israeli occupation authority has shown beyond doubt that there is a blatant double standard and a disconnect in principles and positions," Al Harthy said.
How the labor law protects workers from exposure to human trafficking
The new labor law issued by Royal Decree 2023/53 came with a set of rules that guarantee the rights of workers and protect them from being exposed to human trafficking it is prohibited for the employer to impose any form of forced labor on the worker per Article 5
The penalty for violating the provision of this article has been determined by imprisonment of up to one month and a fine of up to RO2,000.
It is impermissible to keep the worker's passport and private documents without his or her written consent under Article 6.
Not assigning the worker to work that differs from what was agreed upon in the contract except in specific cases and temporarily under the provisions of Article 53.
The law allows the worker to terminate the contract while guaranteeing all his rights and compensation if he is exposed to fraud during the contract, not paying the wages for more than two consecutive months, or assaulting him, etc., according to Articles (11,12).
The law also prohibits the advertisement and promotion of employment, classifying the basis of creed, color, or caste, and advertising them in a manner that humiliates their dignity under the provision of Article 32
It is prohibited to take any sums from the worker in return for his employment under Article 31, which is liable to a penalty of up to one month in prison and a fine of RO5,000.
Workers shall be exempted from judicial fees from all lawsuits filed by workers, or by their beneficiaries under Article 13.
It is prohibited for the employer, under Article 29 to allow any non-Oma worker who has been licensed to employ them, and for whom a license to practice has been granted, to work for others, except after notifying the Ministry electronically.
A worker may not be employed for more than eight working hours per day under Article 70.
The employer is not discharged from the worker's wages unless he transfers wages to his account in a local bank or financial institution licensed by the Central Bank of Oman (CBO).
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