Oman Human Rights Commission launches multilingual guide to safeguard workers’ rights in private sector

Muscat : The publication aims to raise legal awareness among both employees and employers, promote a culture of adherence to the law, and instil a spirit of justice and respect in the workplace.
The launch took place under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Mahad bin Saeed Baouin, Minister of Labour.

The new guide, issued in Arabic, English, Urdu, Hindi, Bengali, and Filipino, provides a detailed overview of workers’ rights and employer obligations as outlined in Oman’s Labour Law. It is designed to eliminate language barriers and ensure that critical legal information reaches Oman’s diverse workforce, especially expatriates.

It reinforces the Sultanate of Oman’s positive human rights record, affirms its continued commitment to relevant international conventions, and builds a work environment based on the principles of justice, equality, and dignity.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Rashid bin Hamad Al Balushi, Chairman of the Omani Human Rights Commission, stated that the guide addresses the real need among parties involved in labour relations to understand the rights and duties stipulated in the Oman Labour Law.

The guide provides a detailed explanation of crucial rights for private sector workers, including the mandatory requirement for written employment contracts with a copy provided to the employee, the prohibition of employers withholding workers’ passports or personal documents without their written consent, the absolute prohibition of forced or compulsory labour, the guarantee of equality among all workers regardless of gender, language, religion, colour, or social status, and the worker’s right to file complaints and grievances through established channels.

The guide also includes regulations for working hours, annual and sick leave entitlements, weekly rest, overtime compensation, end-of-service rights and gratuity, issuance of end-of-service certificates, and ensuring the health and safety of workers by providing first aid, medical care, housing, transportation, and meals at locations where it is required.

The guide contains three main sections: a review of the duties, prohibitions, and rights of both workers and employers; general guidelines for workplace conduct; and information on how to communicate with the Oman Human Rights Commission.