Muscat – The SPF has extended maternity leave insurance coverage to non-Omani workers employed in both the public and private sectors, aligning with the Labour Law.

The initiative is expected to benefit 225,981 individuals, including 160,886 Omanis.
To fund the program, employers will contribute 1 percent of their employees’ monthly wages to the maternity leave insurance branch. The SPF will be responsible for disbursing allowances to eligible beneficiaries.

Under the Maternity Leave Insurance branch:

• Insured women are entitled to 98 days of maternity leave, including 14 days before the expected delivery date, provided the pregnancy exceeds the 25th week.
• Fathers are entitled to 7 days of paternity leave, provided the child is born alive and the leave does not exceed the 98th day of the child’s life.
• The maternity leave insurance applies to all Omanis working in various sectors and on all types of contracts, including temporary and training contracts, as well as retired workers.
• Non-Omani workers in the private sector and those covered by the Labor Law will also benefit from this insurance.
  At a press event held today, July 17, to introduce the new maternity leave insurance branch, the SPF, along with key stakeholders including UNICEF, ILO, ISSA, UNFPA, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and relevant Omani ministries highlighted that the primary objectives of this branch include providing social insurance coverage for maternity-related risks, empowering working women, safeguarding the rights of both employers and insured individuals, and expanding insurance coverage to include non-Omani workers in Oman.
  The SPF emphasized that the new maternity leave insurance aligns with Oman Vision 2040’s priorities for welfare and social protection.