[Oman] New rules for expatriate recruitment agencies coming in 2027

In Oman, the Minister of Labour, Dr Mahad bin Saeed bin Ali Baawain, has issued Ministerial Decision No. 390/2026 introducing new regulations governing agencies recruiting non-Omani workers. The rules will come into force on January 1, 2027, Muscat Daily reports.

According to the Ministry of Labour, the framework aims to strengthen oversight of recruitment offices, improve service quality, protect the rights of employers and workers, and establish a transparent and balanced contractual relationship among all parties.

Dr Saif bin Mohammed Al Busaidi - Adviser to the Minister of Labour for Labour Welfare - reportedly stated that the regulations are an important step towards developing the sector, enhancing the reliability of recruitment offices and curbing unregulated practices.

Under the new framework, recruitment activities are restricted to offices licensed by the ministry. It also introduces unified contracts and forms, a register of licensed offices, financial guarantees and defined procedures for handling disputes.

To obtain a licence, the owner, partners and authorised signatories must now be Omani. The owner or one partner must be dedicated full-time to managing the business and registered with the ministry as an employer. In addition, applicants must register with the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development and submit a financial guarantee of RO 5,000.

The guarantee will reportedly help ensure that recruitment offices meet their contractual obligations and protect employers and workers if those obligations are breached. Offices will also be required to provide suitable business premises, appropriate accommodation for workers and comply with occupational safety and health requirements.

Worker protection is a key element of the framework, with recruitment offices prohibited from collecting any fees from workers for recruitment and required to provide accommodation and care while workers remain in their custody. A job offer specifying the wage and nature of work must be available before recruitment.

The framework reportedly establishes procedures for resolving disputes through the ministry, including specified timeframes for handling complaints and mechanisms to ensure financial obligations are met. The ministry will monitor licensed offices and take regulatory action against violations.

Source: Muscat Daily

In Oman, the Minister of Labour, Dr Mahad bin Saeed bin Ali Baawain, has issued Ministerial Decision No. 390/2026 introducing new regulations governing agencies recruiting non-Omani workers. The rules will come into force on January 1, 2027, Muscat Daily reports.

According to the Ministry of Labour, the framework aims to strengthen oversight of recruitment offices, improve service quality, protect the rights of employers and workers, and establish a transparent and balanced contractual relationship among all parties.

Dr Saif bin Mohammed Al Busaidi - Adviser to the Minister of Labour for Labour Welfare - reportedly stated that the regulations are an important step towards developing the sector, enhancing the reliability of recruitment offices and curbing unregulated practices.

Under the new framework, recruitment activities are restricted to offices licensed by the ministry. It also introduces unified contracts and forms, a register of licensed offices, financial guarantees and defined procedures for handling disputes.

To obtain a licence, the owner, partners and authorised signatories must now be Omani. The owner or one partner must be dedicated full-time to managing the business and registered with the ministry as an employer. In addition, applicants must register with the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development and submit a financial guarantee of RO 5,000.

The guarantee will reportedly help ensure that recruitment offices meet their contractual obligations and protect employers and workers if those obligations are breached. Offices will also be required to provide suitable business premises, appropriate accommodation for workers and comply with occupational safety and health requirements.

Worker protection is a key element of the framework, with recruitment offices prohibited from collecting any fees from workers for recruitment and required to provide accommodation and care while workers remain in their custody. A job offer specifying the wage and nature of work must be available before recruitment.

The framework reportedly establishes procedures for resolving disputes through the ministry, including specified timeframes for handling complaints and mechanisms to ensure financial obligations are met. The ministry will monitor licensed offices and take regulatory action against violations.

Source: Muscat Daily