MUSCAT : In the latest episode, Reem Noor Al Zadjali, Founder of Reem Al Zadjali Lawyers & Legal Consultants, the show walks viewers through the key provisions governing termination, chiefly Articles 42, 43 and 40 of the 2023 law, stressing that ending employment is a serious step requiring clear legal grounds and proper procedure.

Watch the full video here : Ask The Lawyer: Here’s what the law says about termination in Oman

When termination is permitted (Article 42):

Contracts may end when their term expires or a temporary job is completed. Termination may also occur if an employee’s illness leads to continuous sick leave or a total of three months’ leave within a year, as stipulated by the law.

Employer rights and obligations (Article 43):

The law allows termination on specific grounds, including retirement age and organisational changes linked to Omanisation, where a non-Omani may be released when replaced by an Omani in the same role.

Performance-related termination is possible only after notifying the employee and providing a grace period of no less than six months to meet required standards; the employer must also inform the Ministry three months before such a termination. Economic reasons, such as full or partial closure, bankruptcy, or activity changes affecting workforce size, are recognised, but employers cannot end the contract of an Omani worker if a non-Omani occupies the same job.

Termination without notice or end-of-service gratuity (Article 40):
Immediate termination is allowed in defined misconduct cases: using false identity or fraud in hiring; causing major loss to the employer; ignoring safety instructions after written warning; absenteeism exceeding seven consecutive days or ten intermittent days; breaching confidentiality; criminal conviction; intoxication during work; or assaulting colleagues.

While the law sets clear boundaries, the episode underscored that both employers and employees must also follow the specific terms of the employment contract and a company’s internal policies and regulations.

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