Oman Archives - Page 25 of 32 - LexisNexis Middle East

Oman: The Director-General of Disease Control and Surveillance announced a unified Coronavirus health passport will be discussed by GCC health officials next week

26/02/202126/02/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Director-General of Disease Control and Surveillance in Oman has announced a unified Coronavirus health passport will be discussed by GCC health officials next week. Health officials from the GCC countries will discuss it next week. They will also consider travel and movement between GCC countries. It follows the launch of a digital Covid vaccine passport in Bahrain earlier this month. They became one of the first countries in the world to do so. The green COVID-19 Vaccinated shield will be issued to vaccinated people with a username, date of birth, nationality and which vaccine they received. It will help authorities verify the validity of users by scanning a QR code which is linked to a national vaccine register.

News developments

Oman: The Labour Minister has issued a ministerial decision on the Omanisation of certain professions

19/02/202119/02/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Labour Minister has issued a ministerial decision on the Omanisation of certain professions by limiting them to Omani nationals including jobs in the private higher education institutions. The aim is to increase job opportunities for Omani nationals in areas where they are able to be competitive. The decision states that Omani nationals should be appointed in all administrative, financial and other sectors related to admitting and registering students and jobs related to students affairs and services. It was also stressed that the ministry was continuing its search for solutions that boost investment and empowers national manpower.

News developments

Oman: Residence Permits Will Not be Renewed for Drivers From June

12/02/202112/02/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Oman’s Labour Ministry has announced residency permits for drivers will not be renewed when they expire. The only exception will be where an applicant provides a valid driving license consistent with the type of profession they occupy. It will be implemented from 1 June 2021 together with the Royal Oman Police.

News developments

Oman: GCC Investors Do Not Need Residence Card

05/02/202105/02/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Oman’s Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion Ministry has confirmed GCC investors do not need a residence card. It follows rumours on social media that GCC citizens need a lease contract and a municipal license to obtain a residence card. The Ministry confirmed GCC citizens are treated the same as Omani citizens. They are working with the Royal Oman Police Directorate-General of Civil Status. The Ministry added they do not ask GCC investors to obtain residence cards to get a commercial registration or facilitate the establishment of a business in the Sultanate.

News developments

Oman: Citizens Will Not Have to Pay for Healthcare Services

29/01/202129/01/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Oman’s Health Minister has confirmed citizens will not have to pay for healthcare services. They added the right to healthcare is guaranteed for all citizens. They went on to say there are no plans to start charging citizens for healthcare services. Finally, they said a health insurance proposal has been referred to the Council of Ministers and the Capital Market Authority will be responsible for implementing it.

News developments

Oman: Additional Omanisation Rules for Occupational Health and Safety Supervisors Announced

22/01/202122/01/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Oman’s Labour Ministry has announced additional Omanisation rules for occupational health and safety supervisors. Under these, owners of entities which employ at least 50 employees must appoint an Omani occupational safety and health supervisor. These supervisors must be trained and qualified by the facility for this work which includes preparing an appropriate occupational safety and health plan for the entity. They will also have to work with specialists on health and safety training programmes for employees and periodically inspect all the entity’s workplaces and employee accommodation. Other tasks will include carrying out inspections and investigations when there are serious accidents and work injuries at the entity.

News developments

Oman: Labour Minister has announced they have issued Oman Decision No. 7/2021 related to the Omanisation of new professions

15/01/202115/01/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Oman’s Labour Minister has announced they have issued Oman Decision No. 7/2021 related to the Omanisation of new professions. The Decision was issued in line with Oman Sultani Decree No. 25/2008 (the Sultanate’s Labour Law) and Oman Sultani Decree No, 9/2020 establishing the Labour Ministry. The 2020 Sultani Decree also defines its functions and approves its organisational structure. Article 1 of Oman Decision No. 7/2021 states fuel station manager positions and professions related to the activities and business of optics and the sale of glasses will be restricted to Omani nationals. Recruitment licenses and work permits which have already been issued for these professions will be valid until they expire.

News developments

Oman: Expatriate Exit Scheme Extended

09/01/202109/01/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Oman’s Labour Ministry has announced the expatriate exit scheme has been extended. Under the scheme, employers of expatriate employees who want to leave Oman permanently will be exempt from all fees and fines. The scheme has been extended to 31 March following directives from the Sultanate’s Supreme Anti-Coronavirus Committee.

News developments

Oman: Insurance Investment Regulatory Guidelines Issued

18/12/202018/12/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Oman’s Capital Market Authority has announced it has issued insurance investment regulatory guidelines. They will regulate investments of insurance companies and Takaful insurance in the Sultanate. They give insurance firms greater flexibility in making investments to support their corporate growth objectives, while maintaining adequate reserves and liquidity to handle claims from policyholders. In terms of Takaful insurers, Takaful companies will have to comply with legal provisions like deeds and Islamic investment funds according to the specified percentages and terms regardless of whether they are investing in or outside the Sultanate. The regulations impose limits on investments in schemes like deposit, commercial and Government bonds and the public joint stock companies’ shares, investment funds and companies which are not listed on the stock exchange as well as real estate. When drafting the guidelines, the Authority considered investment trends, market volatility issues, international developments in the sector among other things. It is part of efforts by the Authority to support the development of the Omani insurance market and enable insurance firms to diversify their investments.

News developments

Oman: Decision No. 8/2020 On the Issuance of the Arbitration Rules of Oman Commercial Arbitration Centre

10/12/202010/12/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Chairman of Oman’s Commercial Arbitration Centre has issued Oman Decision No. 8/2020 implementing the Centre’s rules. The centre itself was established under Oman Sultani Decree No. 26/2018 and Oman Decision No. 37/2019 was issued to approve its workflow and Board. The rules will come into force, the day after the Decision is published in the Official Gazette.