Manpower ministry sets date for payment of Eid salary in Oman

Muscat: All private companies in Oman must pay employee salaries no later than August 30, the Ministry of Manpower has announced.
Minister of Manpower, Abdullah Al Bakri, has issued a decision to set the date for the payment of salaries to employees at companies that fall under the provisions of the Labour Law.
“On the occasion of Eid Al Adha, payments for the month of August must be issued no later than Wednesday, August 30,” the statement said.
There was mixed responses from business houses.
“Though, I have paid all my staff, I think the announcement came late and caught many of them off guard. Especially, those who pay salaries in the first week or in the second week of the month,” commented a businessman, who didn’t wish to
be named.
Shiv Gupta, the chief executive officer of a private firm, said the companies should take moral responsibility and should have paid their employees by now. “It is one of the biggest festivals of Oman, so I don’t think we need a decision from the Ministry of Manpower to pay our employees before Eid,” he said.
Citing problems in cash flow, a senior official at a private company said, “With this sudden decision, they will have to rethink many issues. Besides that, banks may also take some time to transfer the amount,” he said.
Al Hooti, an OCCI member, said: “I think this decision should be kept among the employees and the employer.”