Muscat, September 13, 2026: The Oman Ministry of Labour has released detailed enforcement data for the first half of 2026, recording a total of 11,172 labour violations.
- 11,172 total labour violations recorded by the Oman Ministry of Labour in H1 2026.
- RO 3.245 million in fines collected due to market violations, with thousands of cases facing further legal proceedings.
- 2,944 expatriate workers deported following 6,707 inspection visits, while establishments recorded a 69.5 percent compliance rate.
The largest category involved 4,859 instances of employer-permit mismatches, where non-Omani workers were employed by parties for which they were not licensed or authorized. Breaking down the violations, 1,952 cases involved workers who left their authorized employers, while 1,117 cases involved non-Omani workers employed in occupations reserved for Omani nationals under Omanisation policies. Additionally, 1,098 workers were found working on their own account, and 962 cases involved failure to comply with the 60-day requirement to return to their home country or transfer services following contract expiry. Employers failing to provide valid work permits accounted for 786 violations, while 234 cases involved workers performing duties outside of approved employment conditions, with 164 cases categorized as other violations.
Oman's Labour Law, specifically Articles 28 and 29, mandates strict compliance regarding work permits, authorized occupation types, and formal notification processes for temporary worker transfers. The Ministry provides an official electronic service portal for workforce management. Indian and other South Asian workers are advised to verify their work permits, ensure their actual employer and occupation match Ministry records, and use official channels—such as the Ministry's call center at 80077000 or the official online portal—to handle contract transfers or report disputes to avoid legal risks.
