Sunday 11 / October / 2026
Muscat: The Ministry of Labour has introduced new regulations governing agencies that recruit expatriate workers, aiming to establish a clear legal framework for their operations, improve service quality and protect the rights of employers and employees.
Dr. Saif bin Mohammed Al-Busaidi, Advisor to the Minister of Labour for Labour Welfare, said the regulations mark a step towards developing the expatriate recruitment sector, improving service standards and enhancing the reliability of recruitment agencies. They also seek to ensure clarity in contractual relationships between agencies, employers and workers.
He added that the regulations establish a clearer framework for rights and obligations through standardised contracts and forms, defined timelines and procedures for recruitment, financial guarantees and dispute resolution mechanisms. These measures are intended to protect all parties and curb unregulated practices.
Al-Busaidi said the regulations also strengthen oversight of recruitment agencies and introduce requirements to improve professionalism in the sector. He stressed that compliance with the prescribed rules would improve service quality and support labour market stability.
Under the new regulations, expatriate recruitment activities are restricted to agencies licensed by the Ministry of Labour. Standardised contracts and forms will be used to clarify obligations, while a register of licensed agencies will promote transparency and help regulate relationships between agencies, employers and workers.
To obtain a licence, the owner of the establishment, its partners and authorised signatories must be Omani citizens. The owner or one of the partners must be dedicated to managing the business, registered with the Ministry of Labour as an employer and registered with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority. Applicants must also deposit a financial guarantee of OMR5,000 with the ministry.
The financial guarantee is intended to strengthen the credibility of recruitment agencies and help ensure they fulfil their contractual obligations, safeguarding the rights of employers and employees in cases of breach.
Agencies must also provide suitable premises for their operations and appropriate accommodation for workers, while complying with occupational health and safety requirements.
For employers, the regulations require the use of standardised recruitment contracts approved by the ministry, a two-year guarantee for recruitment services and a recruitment period not exceeding 45 days.
The regulations also prohibit agencies from charging workers recruitment fees. Agencies must provide accommodation and care for workers during their stay and present them with a job offer before recruitment, clearly specifying the salary and nature of the work.
Licensed agencies are prohibited from promoting or offering the services of expatriate workers, a measure intended to regulate the sector and curb practices that could undermine workers' rights and the integrity of the labour market.
The regulations provide mechanisms for resolving disputes between parties in the employment relationship, allowing them to approach the Ministry of Labour for settlement. They also establish timelines for resolving disputes and procedures to ensure that financial obligations are met.
Oversight will be strengthened through monitoring the performance of licensed agencies, checking compliance with obligations towards employers and employees, and taking regulatory action against violations.
The new rules also introduce measures to facilitate business operations. The licensing fee has been reduced to OMR300 for a two-year licence, the number of temporary licences has been increased to 25, and agencies will be permitted to open branches one year after obtaining their licence. Each new branch must be managed by an Omani national.
The processing of licence applications will also be distributed according to the geographical jurisdictions of the ministry's directorates and labour departments, with the aim of streamlining procedures and facilitating business operations.
The regulations seek to improve professionalism and reliability in the expatriate recruitment sector, raise service standards and promote fair and transparent contractual relationships between employers, workers and recruitment agencies, supporting stability in the labour market and confidence in recruitment services.
