MUSCAT: More than 30 top professions will attract the maximum fee of OMR 2,000 per work permit as the Ministry of Labour has introduced the new work permit fees for hiring expatriate workers on June 1.

Some of the top positions include Chairman of Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Director, General Manager, University’s President, College Dean, Executive Director, Legal Advisor (Public Law), Legal Advisor (Private law), Editor in Chief, Media Consultant, Political Advisor, Special Adviser, Economic Consultant, Financial Consultant, Tax Consultant, and Investment Advisor.

According to the Ministry, hiring expatriates in more than 120 mid level professions will cost OMR 1,000, while more than 600 technical and skilled professions will be charged OMR 600 in the new work permit fee structure.

Speaking exclusively to The Arabian Stories (TAS), a senior official at Ministry of Labour said the new fees is also applicable for those expats renewing the work permits. “The new work permit fees has come into effect from June 1. It is also applicable for those renewing the work permits in upper, intermediate occupations, technical and specialized professions,” he said. 

The decision was made to increase Omanization, the nationalization program of various jobs in the Sultanate.

However, there will be a reduction for those companies that have certain percentage of Omanisation rate. “The fees will be reduced by 25 per cent for establishments that have Omani workforces and 50 percent for establishments that have achieved the Omanisation rate,” the official added. 

“The Omanisation rate will be calculated according to the distribution of workers on the establishment’s various economic activities,” a statement from the Ministry of Labour said.

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