Muscat: To provide more jobs for citizens in the private sector, the Ministry of Labour (MoL) has listed 30 new professions where hiring expats will be prohibited. In a post on social media platform X, MoL announced a series of decisions aimed at regulating the labour market in a way that enables Omanis to find jobs suitable for them. MoL, however, has not specified the professions to be Omanised.
The ministry said it will unveil details of these decisions before it comes into force in September.
MoL said all units of the state’s administrative apparatus and government companies should not deal with private sector establishments that do not adhere to the Omanisation targets. All private sector establishments must obtain a digital certificate from the MoL proving that they meet the work standards and requirements, including the Omanisation targets prescribed by the government.
All private sector establishments must employ at least one Omani in the professions.
It also approved a financial package to raise the established Omanisation rates.
MoL will review work permit fees to ensure that private sector establishments that are committed to Omanisation rates are incentivised and that fees are doubled for establishments that are not compliant.
It will also intensify follow-up and inspection campaigns to ensure that private sector establishments adhere to the decisions regulating the labour market.
The ministry called upon all companies to comply with the decisions that serve the public interest.
Last week, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MoTCIT) rolled out several initiatives to enhance Omanisation in transport, logistics, communications, and information technology sectors.
The ministry will allocate specific jobs exclusively to Omanis from 2025 until the end of 2027. For 2024, the targets are set at 20 per cent Omanisation in the transport and logistics sector, and 31 per cent in the communications and information technology sector.
The initial Omanisation rates for the transport and logistics sector will range between 20 per cent and 50 per cent starting in 2025, with a gradual annual increase until reaching 100 per cent.
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