Muscat: More than 48,000 expats left the Sultanate and around 70,000 had registered to leave by the end of March 2021, according to a first quarter report of the Ministry of Labour for 2021.
The total number of non-Omani workforce who had registered to leave during the grace period till the end of March 31, 2021 was 69,467, while the number of actual departures was 48,863.
Data from the ministry also revealed that 617 expatriates were arrested for violating the provisions of the Labour Law and the procedures implementing it. With 162, the Muscat governorate registered the highest number of arrests followed by 131 in the Governorate of North Al-Batinah and 112 in Al Wusta Governorate.
With regard to inspection visits, the report indicated that the Ministry of Labour has carried out 491 inspections at 736 establishments having a total of 97,053 workers.
The Ministry of Labour added: "The inspection teams set a number measures regarding non-compliant establishments, including issuing 53 violations, and referring 9 establishments to the public prosecution. As many as 56 written warnings have been issued, 142 verbal warnings, and 297 instructions were issued for violating norms."
The report also indicated that the registered reports of expats leaving their work amounted to 4,245.
The Ministry issued 11 notices against establishments violating occupational safety standards and health requirements, referring nine establishments to the Public Prosecution, and notices for improvement to 51 other institutions. The Ministry also issued 37 written warnings against establishments for violating the requirements of occupational safety and health, 27 written alerts, 14 instructions and guidance, and 15 establishments were re-visited at the request of the Public Prosecution. As many as 105 enterprises were committed to occupational health and safety requirements.
