MUSCAT : Oman’s Ministry of Labour has detected a rising number of forged professional classification certificates and work practice licences among expatriate workers, particularly in the engineering and logistics sectors, following the rollout of the country’s professional accreditation system, a senior official said.

Zaher bin Abdullah Al Sheikh, Director of the Professional Standards Department at the Ministry of Labour, said the violations were identified during the implementation of the accreditation framework, which covers professional classification and licences to practise regulated occupations.

Speaking in an interview, Al Sheikh said the ministry, through its sectoral skills units, uncovered attempts by expatriate workers to submit fraudulent documents, including certificates issued by unaccredited bodies, qualifications linked to non-existent universities, incorrect academic specialisations, and manipulated work practice licences.

“All the cases detected so far involve expatriate workers and do not include Omani nationals,” he said, adding that while the number of cases remains limited, it is increasing, prompting authorities to warn of serious legal consequences.

Integrated oversight

Al Sheikh said the ministry applies an integrated oversight system that includes electronic linkage with relevant authorities, verification of documents during the issuance and renewal of work practice licences, and routine field inspections of companies and individuals employing expatriates.

Each work practice licence carries a quick response (QR) code, allowing employers to instantly verify an expatriate worker’s credentials before employment, helping to curb fraud and misrepresentation.

Pre-entry checks for expats

Under the system, any expatriate worker seeking entry to Oman must have their academic and professional qualifications verified by the relevant sectoral skills unit before arrival, depending on the sector of employment, including engineering, logistics and accounting.

A work practice licence is issued only after the qualification is formally approved. Entry permits are granted only after the licence is issued, with expatriate workers undergoing assessment prior to being authorised to practise their profession.

Sectors most affected

The highest number of forgery cases among expatriates has been recorded in the engineering and logistics sectors, with civil engineering — linked to contracting and construction projects — accounting for the majority of violations, Al Sheikh said.

Expatriate workers already in the country are subject to qualification checks upon licence renewal, and employers can verify credentials through the QR code on the work practice card.

Penalties

Oman’s law provides for strict penalties against expatriates and institutions involved in forgery, including financial fines, cancellation of work practice licences, deportation, and referral to judicial authorities, depending on the severity of the offence.

Al Sheikh said responsibility also extends to companies that facilitate or ignore such violations, stressing that compliance is essential to regulating the labour market and improving workforce efficiency.

Regulating the labour market

He said the professional accreditation project aims to regulate the labour market, raise competency standards, improve productivity and enhance the competitiveness of the national economy, while supporting the gradual replacement of expatriate labour with qualified Omani workers.

Some sectors have been granted transitional periods to complete compliance procedures, including the energy and minerals sector until June 1, 2026, with plans to expand the system later to sectors such as industry and legal consultancy.

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