Oman imposes expat hiring ban in some sectors

Oman has imposed a ban on foreigners from working in some sectors, according to reports.

The sultanate’s Ministry of Manpower said permits would not be issued to expats for work in businesses classified as “learning and development centres” for six months.

Areas covered by the ban include nurseries, training centres, Quran schools, vocational training centres, administrative training institutes, human resources development, language and computer teaching institutes, specialised rehabilitation centres and elderly and special needs homes.

Times of Oman reports that the Ministry of Commerce asked companies in January to migrate to more specific business categories than the ‘development of mental skills’ area many were still classed under.

Companies that complied or that are registered under the proper classification originally can still hire foreigners.

The six-month period will allow the Ministry of Manpower to reclassify existing institutions.

“The ministry aims to organise the field of ‘developing of mental skills’ to be more specialised in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social Development,” director general of commerce at the Ministry of Commerce Khamis bin Abdullah Al Farisi was quoted as saying.