Oman’s recruitment offices will be barred from charging workers any fee for their jobs from 1 January 2027. Ministerial Decision No. 390/2026 applies to offices that bring in non-Omani workers, both domestic staff and employees hired by companies, and repeals Ministerial Decision No. 1/2011, Times of Oman reported on 24 October.
The Ministry of Labour first set out the framework on 11 October, according to Oman Observer and Muscat Daily. The decision is issued under the Labour Law, Royal Decree 53/2023.
Who is affected
The rules touch three groups: workers recruited from abroad, employers who hire through agencies, and the offices themselves. That includes the many households in Oman, expatriate families among them, that bring in housemaids, drivers or nannies.
Companies that recruit through an agency are covered too.
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What changes for workers
No fees for a job
Offices may not take any fee or payment from a worker in return for recruitment or employment. Before recruitment, the worker must receive a job offer stating the wage and the nature of the work.
Care, documents and insurance
Offices must provide housing and care while a worker is in their custody. According to an analysis published by Times of Oman, they may not hold a worker’s passport or official documents without the worker’s written consent.
Workers must have a medical examination before entering Oman, and every service contract must be covered by insurance. Licensed offices are also barred from advertising or offering non-Omani workers’ services to third parties, Gulf Business reported.
Who can run an office
Only offices licensed by the Ministry of Labour may recruit non-Omani workers, and the ministry will keep a public register of them. The owner, partners and authorised signatories must all be Omani. Gulf Business reported that the owner or at least one partner must work in the business full time and be registered with the ministry as an employer. Offices must also register with the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development.
Each applicant must deposit a financial guarantee of RO 5,000 with the ministry. Oman Observer and Gulf Business reported that the licence fee is being cut to RO 300 for a two-year licence.
An office can open branches one year after it is licensed, and each new branch must be managed by an Omani national. The number of temporary licences is being raised to 25.
What employers and households are guaranteed
Contracts and forms will be standardised and approved by the ministry. Unless both sides agree a shorter period, the office must deliver the worker within 45 days of the service contract.
Times of Oman reported that the guarantee runs for two years from the start of work for domestic workers and similar roles, and for 90 days for workers recruited by companies. In certain cases the office must refund the employer, or provide a replacement if both sides agree in writing.
Employers can lose that right in some situations:
- misleading the worker about working conditions;
- failing to pay wages for more than two months in a row, or for three separate months in a year;
- harassing the worker or using violence against them.
Disputes and penalties
Employers, workers and offices can take disputes to the Ministry of Labour, which will deal with them within set time limits. Offices that break the rules face a warning, administrative fines, or suspension or cancellation of their licence. Any criminal penalties under the Labour Law still apply.
Background
The decision replaces rules in place since 2011. It sits under the same Labour Law, Royal Decree 53/2023, that sets end of service gratuity for expats in Oman.
What to do next
Existing licences remain valid until they expire, but they must be renewed under the new rules. Households and companies planning to recruit in the coming months should check that their agency appears on the ministry’s register of licensed offices.
They should also ask the agency how their contract will change once the new standard forms come into use. Workers who are asked for a fee after 1 January 2027 can take the matter to the Ministry of Labour.
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FAQs
When do Oman’s new recruitment office rules start?
Ministerial Decision No. 390/2026 takes effect on 1 January 2027. It repeals Ministerial Decision No. 1/2011, Times of Oman reported.
Can a recruitment office in Oman charge a worker a fee?
No. Under the new regulation, offices may not take any fee or payment from a worker in return for recruitment or employment.
How long is the employer guarantee for a domestic worker?
Times of Oman reported a two-year guarantee from the start of work for domestic workers and similar roles, and 90 days for workers recruited by companies. Employers should confirm the terms with the Ministry of Labour or their licensed office.
How can I check if a recruitment office is licensed?
The Ministry of Labour will keep a public register of licensed offices. Check that the office appears there before signing a contract.
