Oman waived off the fines for expired work permits. On March 20, 2022, a statement stated that the Ministry of Labour was exempting companies and individuals from renewal penalties, but the renewal should be completed before September 1, 2022.
The fines related to the delays in the renewal or issuance of work permits for expats in Oman will be waived until September 1, but the renewals should be completed by then.
The reduction in expat work visa fees that were slashed by more than 85 per cent will be applicable after June 1, 2022.
Previously in September 2021, the Supreme Committee announced several fine exemptions, including an exemption from fines for employers to renew expired work licenses for workers outside the Sultanate.
It was reported that the Supreme Committee decided to exempt from fines all institutions and companies who are liable as a result of not renewing their commercial records and licenses, provided that those records and licenses are renewed during the year 2021.
The Supreme Committee decided to exempt from fines all licenses issued by government agencies for the activities that have expired or will expire during the period from June 1, 2020, until December 31, 2021, subject to renewal.
It also decided to allow employers to renew expired work licenses for workers outside the Sultanate and to claim exemption from fines incurred during the period from June 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021.
The committee further announced a decision exempting small and medium enterprises from the fees for renewing the card for all commercial activities that ended during the year 2021 and to reschedule loans without rescheduling fees and from registration fees in the Isnad system of the Tender Board and usufruct land fees.
Previously, expat workers in Oman who wished to return to their home country were exempted from all penalties associated with their work permit in November 2020,
At that time, the ministry of labour announced that foreign workers were exempted from all fees and fines arising from work permits provided that they left the Sultanate for good.
The fine waiver came into effect on November 15 2020, and was valid until December 31 2020.
However, this did not include fees and fines owed to the Royal Oman Police and other agencies of the Supreme Committee to deal with COVID-19.
The ministry stated that expats with expired work permits were allowed to leave for their countries. Both employees and employers are exempt from any fines that may have arisen due to work permit-related issues, the ministry said in a statement.
The statement said this followed the Supreme Committee’s decision to facilitate the waiving off of fines payable by the country’s foreign workforce due to the coronavirus pandemic.
