Ministry of Manpower urges expat workers to stay home after work

Muscat: Oman’s Ministry of Manpower has directed all private sector companies and institutions to appeal to their expat employees to stay at home after their office working hours and to avoid social gatherings.
The decision comes after the Supreme Committee took stringent measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The ministry urged workers to stay at home, even during weekends and public holidays.
A Ministry of Manpower statement said: “Pursuant to the directives of competent authorities in the application of the highest precautionary standards to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and promote measures to protect citizens and residents, the Ministry of Manpower calls on employers, private sector companies and institutions to guide their expatriate workforce to stay at home after their working hours even during weekends and public holidays.
“Avoid crowds and labour gatherings and to cancel non-essential public meeting in public places,” added the statement. “Note that legal procedures will be taken against those found to be in breach.”
In Duqm, the Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm (SEZAD) has asked workers in the city to not congregate in large groups. A statement from SEZAD said, “We have noticed the existence of labour gatherings in the commercial city of Sai District, where such gatherings constitute a clear violation of the decisions of the Supreme Committee in charge of researching a mechanism to deal with developments resulting from the spread of the coronavirus.
“Accordingly, SEZAD requests workers not to leave their camps, outside of working hours, except in necessary cases, and if needed, they will leave in batches, to avoid such gatherings,” added the organisation. “Legal action will be taken by SEZAD against any project or company violating these instructions.”