Labour Law Update: Part Time Employment for Omani Nationals

In an attempt to develop the laws relating to part time jobs in the Sultanate, the Ministry of Manpower recently issued a Ministerial Decision which permits employers in the private sector to recruit Omani employees on a part time basis. The decision shall be published in the Official Gazette, and come into effect the day following the date of publication.

The Ministerial Decision states that an employer may hire a part timer on the following conditions:

• the work hours should not exceed four hours per day;
• the wage per hour should not be less than RO 3;
• part time jobs are confined to Omani nationals;
• the part timer is also known as “job seeker” therefore those aged 16 are only permitted to work between 6am and 6pm; and
• part timers' ratio is not more than ten per cent of the Omanisation ratio.

Employment on a part time basis shall be restricted to private institutions practicing activities such as sale of food commodities; petrol filling; hotels, restaurants and coffee shops; sale of electronic and electrical devices; stores; automobile agencies; farming; exchange agencies; child and elderly care; travel and tourism agencies; tour guides; driving; educational and medical services.

The Ministerial Decision further provides that the part time labour contract should comply with Article 23 of the Omani Labour Law and specify the working hours, working days and the wage per hour. The employer should also provide the Ministry of Manpower records of part time employees detailing their names and their job designations.

Furthermore, the employer or the part timer can terminate the contract after informing the other party in writing three working days prior to the date of termination.

This update is prepared on the basis of information carried by leading newspapers in Oman. Any specific questions can be answered after the publication of the Ministerial Decision in the Official Gazette.