Wednesday 05 / February / 2025
Muscat: His Excellency Dr. Mahad bin Saeed Baouin, Minister of Labor, outlined a phased approach to enforcing the Wage Protection System (WPS) in Oman. Initially, fines were imposed solely on the commercial register of employers who failed to transfer wages through the WPS. However, the Minister announced that in the coming months, these fines will be expanded to include penalties based on the number of workers affected by delayed or non-payment of wages.
Recognizing the need to encourage compliance, the government has implemented several measures. Accumulated fines that have been outstanding for more than seven years will be waived. Furthermore, fees related to WPS violations that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic period will be canceled, acknowledging the economic challenges faced by employers during this time. Employers will also have until the end of July to rectify their situations, including options such as renewing licenses or terminating services without incurring additional penalties.
While these measures aim to facilitate compliance, the Minister emphasized that full adherence to labor laws will be mandatory in the future. This will ensure a well-organized and efficient labor market that benefits all stakeholders and contributes positively to the country's economic growth.
This approach demonstrates a balanced strategy by the government. It provides a period of grace for employers to rectify past violations while simultaneously emphasizing the importance of future compliance with the WPS. This ensures that workers receive their wages on time and that the labor market operates fairly and efficiently.
