Muscat: The Ministry of Labour organized a media briefing, today, to present details of the new Law and discuss the benefits accruing employers and workers. H.E. Sayyid Salim Musallam Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of Human Resources Development at the Ministry of Labour presided over the media discussion, which highlighted the following points:

• Depending on economic conditions, the minimum wage will be determined in consultation with concerned parties (i.e. workers through General Federal of Oman Workers) and will be approved by the Council of Ministers.
• The Law seeks to enable Omanis to assume leadership positions and also adapt to economic changes to become attractive to investors.

• The employer is obliged to implement procedures that make the work environment attractive.
• The Law allows the employer, following Ministry approvals, to transfer workers to different institution, on a temporary basis, so as to save the cost of recruiting foreign workers.

• The law grants the employer the right to terminate a contract in the event that the worker fails to reach the required level of productivity – after giving him 6 months notice period and provided that another Omani is appointed to fill his job.

• Sick leaves require authentication from relevant authorities and approvals from the Health Ministry, in the event that the leave is from a private hospital.

• The Law allows termination of the service of expatriate workers in implementing the Omanisation plan, whereby an Omani worker is appointed to replace in the same profession.

• The law stipulates that the workers or their representatives must report to the competent settlement committee to proceed with settling the dispute and resolving it in a speedy manner.

• Obligations for workers include not accepting gifts, commissions, bonuses, money, or other things while carrying out work; not keeping the original documents and papers related to the work; and not carrying out any activity similar to the one practiced by the employer during the validity of the contract.