In September 2024, the Ministry of Labor in Oman issued Decision No. 2024/501, introducing new amendments to the country’s employment regulations. These changes include the addition of 39 professions to the list of prohibited jobs for expatriates. The decision aims to increase employment opportunities for Omani citizens and better regulate the labor market.
Details of Prohibited Jobs
The list of prohibited jobs spans a wide range of professions and industries, including:
Refrigerated truck drivers for food and medical products.
Water tanker drivers.
Hotel reception managers.
Lifeguards.
Travel agency staff.
Room service supervisors.
Quality control managers.
Drilling fluid engineers.
Drilling supervisors.
Electrical technicians.
Mechanical technicians.
Drilling measurement engineers.
Quality control engineers.
Aircraft loading supervisors.
Marketing specialists.
Docking and ship stabilization workers.
Foremen.
Loading and unloading coordinators.
Sales representatives.
Commercial brokers.
Purchasing officers.
Crane drivers.
Forklift drivers.
Salespeople for new and used cars.
Salespeople for new and used spare parts.
General systems analysts.
Information systems network specialists.
Marine supervisors.
Quality control officers.
Computer engineers.
Marine traffic control specialists.
Web designers.
Computer maintenance technicians.
Computer programmers.
Computer operators.
Operations analysts.
Objectives and Impact of the Decision
The new regulations align with Oman’s Vision 2040, which aims to diversify the economy and reduce dependency on oil revenues. Key objectives include:
Increasing employment rates among Omanis.
Reducing reliance on expatriate labor.
Supporting skill development for Omani youth.
The decision is expected to significantly impact expatriates and multinational companies operating in Oman. Restrictions on specialized jobs for expatriates may lead to changes in hiring processes and a potential reduction in the number of foreign workers. International companies will need to adopt new strategies to align with these changes.
Implementation Timeline
The regulations will be implemented gradually. Some professions will immediately fall under the new law, while others will be phased in by 2027. For instance, regulations concerning IT jobs will take effect incrementally starting in January 2025.
For further details, refer to official sources and local Omani news outlets.
