‘WE WON’T CUT EXPAT WORK PERMITS IF COMPANIES HIRE OMANIS’

Employers who ignore Omanisation targets risk having their expat work visas cancelled

The issuing of work permits won’t be stopped if violating companies meet the required Omanisation targets, the Ministry of Manpower has said.

The announcement comes in the backdrop of the Ministry of Manpower’s revelation that 161 companies had been penalised for not employing a single Omani worker.

Action has been taken against establishments employing up to 40 people each and 6,959 people in all, for not hiring Omani nationals, the Ministry of Manpower revealed .

Moreover, an official at the Ministry of Manpower told the Times of Oman that the ministry will not deal with these companies as long as they violate the Omanisation target rule.

“They have to rectify the situation. Violating companies are required to speed up the process and work to achieve the required Omanisation rate, because a delay will cause termination of work permits for their employees,” the official said.