Arab News, Monday, Jan 25, 2021 | Jamadi Al Thani 12, 1442
Oman bars expats from certain jobs amid economic downturn
Oman: Oman announced Sunday it will bar expatriates
from certain jobs in an effort to create more employment opportunities for its
citizens amid an economic downturn.
In a region that depends heavily on cheap foreign labour, expats in the
sultanate make up about 40 percent of the country's 4.5 million-strong
population.
Faced with an economic slump and a sharp drop in oil revenues, Oman and other
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have stepped up efforts to create jobs for
their own citizens.
"A number of jobs in the private sector will be nationalised," the Omani labour
ministry announced on Twitter on Sunday.
It added the work permits of foreigners in those professions will not be renewed
after their expiry date.
Various jobs in insurance companies, shops and car dealerships, including
finance, commercial and administrative positions, will be "limited to Omanis
only", the ministry said.
Work as a driver, "no matter what the vehicle", will also be reserved for
citizens, it added.
In April 2020, Oman ordered state-owned companies to accelerate the process of
replacing foreign staff with Omani nationals, especially in senior positions, to
create more jobs for citizens.
The finance ministry at the time said large numbers of expatriates still
occupied managerial posts in state-run firms.
Since 2014, the oil-rich Gulf region has been hit hard by falling crude prices,
suffering a new blow amid the global economic impact of the novel coronavirus
pandemic.
Oman and fellow GCC states Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar
and Bahrain have saught to diversify their economies and integrate millions of
new graduates into their workforces.
All have introduced legislation to give nationals preference over foreigners in
both the public and private sectors.
More than 25 million foreigners live in the Gulf, making up the majority of the
populations in the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait.