Nearly 500 expats deported after workplace inspections in Oman

Muscat: Nearly 500 expats were deported in Oman's Al Dhahirah governorate as a result of a series of workplace inspections carried out between January and June 2019, the Ministry of Manpower has announced.
A statement by the ministry explained that the inspections “led to the discovery of 625 employees who were in violation of Omani law, resulting in the deportation of 478 expat workers, while the remainder await the completion of deportation procedures.
"A majority of the people deported had been absconding from their workplaces," the statement added.
This came as part of a ministry crackdown against illegal employment in Oman.
Abdullah Al Abri, director of the joint workplace inspection team in Al Dhahirah, said "The ministry is hard at work trying to find expat workers who violate laws, who have left their workplace without permission, who are absconding, or who have entered the country illegally.
"This is because these workers have a negative impact on the labour market and commit illegal practices, while failing to comply with the residency law and labour law and its ministerial decisions."
Al Abri hinted that the team was only getting started in its mission.
Al Abri said: "The Directorate General of Labour in Al Dhahirah has doubled its efforts to capture violators in the different wilayahs and villages of Al Dhahirah, cooperating with the Public Prosecution and the Royal Oman Police to do so. This is in order to protect the public from the negative effects of hiring workers illegally or allowing them to find their own illegal work. It harms the country's security.
"Besides, these workers do not have a stable source of income, which leads to other harmful social practices such as stealing from homes and stores, as well as selling drugs and alcoholic beverages.
"Finally, these workers illegally compete with citizens who are working legally and in line with regulations," he added.
Al Abi had a warning for employers as well. He called upon business owners to monitor their expatriate workers, as the ministry will hold large scale inspection campaigns aimed at ensuring that employers and employees alike are adhering to the labour law and its regulations."
The statement added: "The Directorate General of Manpower in Al Dhahirah has carried out a series of workplace investigations and inspections on private sector institutions and blue collar work sites to check their compliance with the labour law and to ensure that they are following health and safety regulations."