MUSCAT: Do you know who washes your car? Do you know whether he is an undocumented, runaway, laid off, worker or not? Do you know employing an such workers to wash your car is illegal according to Omani laws?

If the answer is no for the above questions, you are in trouble and please find answers for them, as the Ministry of Manpower has launched a crackdown on illegal car washers in Oman.

Around 72 people were arrested for working illegally as car washers in Muscat.

The Arabian Stories has learnt that 72 illegal workers were arrested from an inspection campaigns carried out from January 1 to March 30 at various parts of Muscat.

Among the 72 illegal workers, 28 of those caught were runaway workers, 44 were laid-off workers and seven were those who had expired labour cards.

Muscat Governorate recorded the highest number of arrests with 19 illegal workers followed by North Sharqiyah Governorate with 17.

Speaking about the crackdown, Salim bin Saeed Al, Director General of Labour Welfare at the Ministry of Manpower said that these campaigns were the result of the Ministry’s monitoring of the implementation of the Labour Law and to ensure that the authorised foreign labour force worked with employers according to official work permits.

He explained: “The Ministry of Manpower appeals to employers and workers to abide by the provisions of the Labour Law and the ministerial decrees implemented for the private sector in terms of the necessity of hiring expat work forces in the licensed professions and within the scope of their work.”

Al Badi also asked both Omani citizens and residents to report to the authorities any cases of the expatriate work force operating illegally in order to keep the Sultanate secure.