Muscat – Ministry of Labour (MoL) has introduced a set of new regulations requiring all private sector firms operating for more than a year to employ at least one Omani national in an effort to address disparities in national employment across the sultanate’s labour market.

Announcing the decision, MoL said the directive targets companies that have failed to hire Omanis despite benefiting from the country’s pro-business environment. Official data shows that more than 245,000 establishments currently employ over 1.1mn expatriates but not a single Omani, resulting in a zero Omanisation rate.

In contrast, around 1,000 large firms employ 200,000 Omanis and 245,000 expatriates, reflecting Omanisation rate of 44%. Additionally, 19,000 establishments employ 60,000 Omanis and 300,000 expatriates – a rate of just 17%.

‘The newly announced measures are designed to correct these disparities, curb hidden trade practices, ensure a fairer distribution of job opportunities, and enhance the overall competitiveness of the labour market in a sustainable and equitable manner,’ the ministry stated.

To support implementation, the ministry has rolled out a package that includes training programmes linked to employment, on-the-job training, wage support and flexible hiring options. These include counting self-employed and part-time Omani workers towards the required Omanisation quota.

Companies will be given deadlines based on their size. Establishments that have been operating for a year without hiring an Omani must submit an operational plan within one month of being notified by the ministry.

Firms with ten or more employees must appoint an Omani within three months of notification. Smaller companies with fewer than ten workers will have six months.

Full-time self-employed individuals have one year to regularise their commercial status in line with the new rules.

A special committee will be formed to handle complaints, assess exceptional cases and monitor implementation impact.

MoL said the initiative forms part of a wider strategy to empower the national workforce and align employment practices with Oman’s long-term economic and social goals.