Talks continue for change in NOC: Minister
Tanfeedh team is discussing whether to allow an expat to switch jobs after the completion of two-year contract
MUSCAT: Discussions are taking place over whether to amend labour law rules to allow workers to move jobs without a No Objection Certificate (NOC) if they have honoured their contracts.
The Minister of Manpower, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Bakri, addressing the Shura Council earlier this week, agreed with members that the two-year visa ban for expat workers should stay, in an effort to protect Omani businesses.
The minister also clarified that discussions are currently being held over the NOC, in response to questions from members.
A manpower ministry spokesman confirmed to Times of Oman that a team from Tanfeedh is “discussing the matter”. The discussions are centred around allowing an expatriate who finishes his contract to move to another job without requiring a NOC, according to Al Bakri.
“If he completes two years, he has the right to move to another employer as the contract between them is over. If he comes back to his country during his contract and violates the contract then he will not be allowed to come back until after two years,” Al Bakri said, during the Shura Council meeting.
The minister was clarifying what is currently being discussed by joint agencies following proposals from the Tanfeedh labs, set up last year to help Oman streamline governance and move away from its dependency on oil and gas.
“There are regulations being studied by a team which state that a worker, if he needs to switch jobs during the two years, should take the employer’s permission or else stay in his job,” the minister clarified.
However, a source at the ministry explained that these are ongoing discussions and to date no amendments have been made to the current law.
“The team is discussing procedures where a worker should stay in his job for two years and if he wants to leave earlier he is not allowed to do so. But in case he finished the contract he will be allowed to move.
“In the regards of keeping the law I think there are regulations by a joint team which states that a worker if he needs to switch jobs during the two years should take the employer’s permission or else stay in his job.
If he completed the two years he has the right to move to another employer as the contract between them is over. If he came back to his country during his contract and violated the contract then he is not allowed to come back until after two years.
“In answer to requests on keeping article 11 of the law (2-yearvisa-ban) there were earlier requests to keep it and we are always with this opinion but there were opposed opinions.
“The team had procedures were a worker should stay in his job for two years and if he wants to leave earlier he is not allowed to do so. But if he finished he will be allowed to move.”