Employment
A new Labour Law in 2023 with Omanisation quotas
Royal Decree 53 of 2023 replaced the 2003 Labour Law, adding flexible work models and revising termination and end-of-service provisions.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — Ministry of Labour conciliation then the labour divisions of the courts.
- Deadline — 1 year to bring a labour claim
- Deadline — 30 days' notice for indefinite contracts
Governing law
- Labour Law, Royal Decree 53 of 2023
- Labour Law 2003 (Royal Decree 35/2003), repealed
- Social Protection Law, Royal Decree 52 of 2023
In practice
The 2023 Labour Law is recent enough that a great deal of circulating material still describes the 2003 regime, which differs on termination grounds, working hours and leave. The new law introduced part-time and remote work, revised the grounds for lawful dismissal, and pairs with the Social Protection Law of the same year that extended social insurance to the private sector and to Omani self-employed workers. Omanisation quotas by sector are enforced and determine hiring feasibility. Migrant workers remain sponsored, with the no-objection certificate requirement for changing employer relaxed but not abolished.