Several occupations reserved for Omani nationals

Muscat: A number of professions in the private sector, including in finance and accounting  professions have been reserved for Omani nationals only through two decisions issued by  the Ministry of Labour.

Dr. Mahad bin Said bin Ali Baowain, the Minister of Labour, issued  decision no. 8/2021 that regulates the practice of some professions and activities, and decision no. 9/2021 that regulates the profession of driving.

According to the ministerial decision no. 8/2021 the reservation extends to “financial and administrative professions in insurance companies and companies operating in insurance brokerage activities, the professions of selling, accounting, money exchange, administration and arranging goods in the shops operating in malls and account auditing professions in car agencies.”

Included in the list are “all professions selling new and used vehicles, all accounting professions in the activities of selling new and used vehicles in car agencies, and the activity of selling spare parts for new vehicles affiliated with cars agencies.”

Article two states, “Non-Omani workforce licences and work practice licenses issued for the professions and activities specified in Article one shall be valid until their expiry date.” The ministry added that “the decision shall take effect six months after the date of publication of the decision on January 20, 2021.”

Occupations including the driving of vehicles to transport fuel, agricultural and food materials  will be restricted to Omanis only, the Ministry of Labour announced.

The decision states, “Practising the profession of driving vehicles of any kind in transportation of fuel, transportation of agricultural materials and transportation of foodstuffs are restricted to Omanis only.”

“It is permissible to authorise recruitment of one expatriate worker to transport agricultural materials and foodstuffs as a distributor of goods for only small and medium enterprises owned by Omanis who are full-time managers, are registered with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority, and are insured with the Public Authority for Social Insurance, provided that the vehicle is commercial and registered in the name of the institution. These decisions will also take effect six months after the date of its publication,” the ministry added.