Oman’s Ministry of Labour will temporarily suspend the issuance of work permits for migrant workers in specific professions for six months, effective 1 September, 2024.
The decision primarily affects roles in the construction and service sectors, including:
- Construction workers
- Cleaners
- Loaders
- Bricklayers
- Steel Fixers
- Tailors (both for Women’s and Men’s clothing)
- Electricians, General and Home Electrical Installations
- Painters
- Barbers
- Waiters
- Chefs
The Ministerial Decision No. (452/2024) does not apply to migrant workers currently employed in these sectors who are renewing or transferring their sponsorship, as long as they are not outside the country.
In recent years, Oman has adopted a more aggressive approach to discourage employers from hiring migrant workers from abroad, aiming to localise jobs for Omani nationals. While the Sultanate has previously banned migrant workers from high-paying professions and positions, its strategy for lower-paying jobs has primarily involved temporary bans on hiring foreign workers. Unlike most Gulf states, except Bahrain, Oman has a relatively high number of Omani nationals employed in lower-paying sectors such as construction, services, and agriculture.
