Friday 15 / November / 2024
Muscat: Government raids to catch expats working with incorrect visas will be intensified, with 500 people arrested for working illegally this month alone.
“Government is aware that the Labour Law violations are a little high so the inspections are high. The number of expats is growing. Similarly, the violations are growing. So, the inspections will also be increased.
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“We want to stabilise the market with legal workers. We don’t want any labour law violators. This will adversely affect the opportunities in Oman,” Said Salem Al Saadi, advisor to Minister of Manpower, said.
Anyone working in a different field or occupation listed on the work permit is breaking Omani law and can be sent home. Those not working for their sponsor are also breaking the law.
Intensified raids to find expats who violate labour laws are being carried out in Oman, he said.
“Raids are carried out randomly and on tip-offs from the public to streamline the labour market. The raids are always intense,” he added.
This month alone, 500 expatriates were caught in raids across Oman, according to the statistics uploaded by the Ministry of Manpower on its official twitter handle.
According to Oman Labour Law Article 114, a non-Omani employee who works in Oman, without a licence from the concerned directorate, or works with any employer, other than the employer who obtained a licence to bring him to Oman, shall be punished.
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The punishment for the violator is imprisonment for a period not exceeding one month and a fine not exceeding OMR100, either or both, in addition to the cancellation of the licence issued to the employer.
Additionally, any employer who wilfully allows any of his employees to work with another employer will also be punished.
The punishment is imprisonment for a period not exceeding one month and fine not exceeding OMR200, for each employee or by one of these two punishments and the punishment will be multiplied by the number of the employees in respect of whom the breach has been committed.
Such employers may not be allowed to bring into Oman any non-Omani employee for a period not exceeding one year.
“Such actions should continue. If not, it will encourage others to violate the law,” Mohammed Al Busaidi, a Majlis Al Shura member, said. “Hiring ‘free visa’ workers is a risk. Employers who facilitate ‘free visas’ should be questioned and action should be taken. Government should provide visa clearance only for those who need it,” the Shura member added.
Ahmed Al Hooti, an Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry member, said that both employer and worker should follow the rules set by the ministry.
“Workers violating the labour law are risking their future,” the OCCI member said.
“Due to the current economic problems if some companies are not in a position to accommodate the workers they have hired, they should not let them go to work with other sponsors illegally risking their future. Instead of that, government should be informed and a legal way should be found,” the OCCI member added.
Shahswar Al Balushi, the CEO of Oman Society of Contractors (OSC), added that the government should provide visas for those who have the capacity to hire them.
“Government should classify the companies and judge whether they require a visa or not. If the visas are provided on the basis of proper checking the ‘free visa’ won’t happen,” the CEO said.
Meanwhile, an industrialist in Muscat said that there are challenges in getting visas on time when it is required.
“Government should be a little lenient, especially when the market condition is bad,” the industrialist said.
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