MUSCAT – The initiative, implemented through the Ministry’s Directorate General of Labour in Dhofar Governorate in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MAFWR), aims to facilitate the temporary recruitment and transfer of agricultural workers under a regulated framework designed to support the region’s agricultural sector.
Under the approved measures, agricultural workers may be transferred for one month during the planting season and for up to two months during the harvest season.
The Ministry said the service is exclusively available to farmers in the Najd region and is governed by a set of regulations to ensure proper workforce management. Workers cannot be transferred to occupations outside those specified in their existing work permits, nor can they be moved from special work permit categories to commercial work permit categories unless they remain with the same employer or are employed in occupations classified under Category Three.
The regulations also require that workers must have completed at least three months of service with their current employer, have a minimum of three months remaining on their work permit, and hold an active work permit. In addition, employers are permitted to submit a maximum of two applications annually for planting seasons and two for harvest seasons.
To access the service, farmers must first submit an application to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources in Thumrait, providing details of the crop to be cultivated and the cultivated area, along with supporting documents including a land title deed or valid agricultural usufruct contract, an agricultural holding certificate, and a well permit.
After obtaining approval from the agriculture department, applicants must complete the procedures with the Directorate General of Labour in Dhofar Governorate by submitting the endorsed application together with the required land ownership or usufruct documents.