Oman government approves 73 jobs for juveniles

Muscat: Juveniles in Oman will be allowed to work in more than 70 occupations, a list of which was released by the Ministry of Manpower, opening these for children between 15 to 18 years of age.
The list of 73 jobs includes books, clothing, shoes, bags, newspaper and utensils salesman. The decision No. 217/2016, signed by Sheikh Abdullah Nasi Al Bakri, the Minister of Manpower, stated that the employer has to sponsor a medical checkup for the juvenile employee every six months.
Speaking to Sulaiman Al Khalili, working at the media department of the Ministry of Manpower, he said the decision was taken to expand the regulations in the Labour Law.
“This is part of the Labour Law. However, the decision was aimed at better clarifying the regulations,” said Al Khalili, adding that any violation should be reported immediately to the Ministry of Manpower.
Chapter one of part five of the Labour Law emphasises that it is prohibited to employ juveniles of either sex before they attain the age of fifteen. The Law also says that juvenile employees under the age of eighteen years shall not be required to work between 6 pm and 6 am nor shall they be required to do actual work for a period exceeding six hours a day.
In all circumstances, juveniles shall not be required to work for additional hours, nor shall they be caused to stay in the workplace after the prescribed period or be required to work during the days of rest or public holidays.
Anyone violating Chapter Five shall be liable to pay a fine of OMR500. The fine may be doubled depending upon the number of women juveniles employed in violation of the provisions. In case of a repeat violation, the employer may face a maximum of one month imprisonment in addition to the fine.
Last year, 506 juvenile delinquents were registered for various offences, some of these more commonly associated with adult or career criminals.
In 2014, 423 young people under the age of 18 found themselves on the wrong side of the law, according to data from the Juvenile Affairs Department at the Ministry of Social Development.
The Times of Oman reported earlier this year, citing a recent study, that an estimated 331 children aged 7 to 18 years are working in Oman, with over a third of them residing in the capital Muscat itself.
According to the Labour Law, it is legal for children above 15 years to work. According to the report, commissioned by the Ministry of Social Development, 94 per cent of child labourers in Oman are boys. All the children come from low-income Omani families.
Researchers said 37.5 per cent of these children are based in Muscat, while 26.9 per cent are concentrated in the North and South Batinah province. Some 10.3 per cent of these child workers are in Al Dhahira Governorate.