We are issuing this urgent advisory to notify you of three significant Ministry of Labour (MOL) enforcement actions that now directly affect all employers in Oman. These matters require immediate attention to avoid unnecessary operational disruption for all our clients and Bondoni.
1- MOL Over-60 Work Permit Restriction (Implemented 20 August 2026)
On 20 August 2026, MOL implemented a restriction preventing the issuance and renewal of work permits for expatriates aged 60 and above. This policy was not announced beforehand, and employers only became aware of it when applications were rejected automatically on the MOL platform. Although the Labour Law contains no age-based employment limit, MOL is enforcing this restriction administratively and without exception through standard channels.
Bondoni’s operational experience confirms:
All applications for expatriates aged 60+:
- Are rejected instantly on the MOL portal
- Standard escalation channels do not provide exceptions.
- Only exceptional requests are considered, and approval takes weeks and requires direct intervention from the Undersecretary and the Director General (DG) of MOL.
- It is also clear:
- – The policy is deliberate and fully enforced
- – Employers must replace expatriates with experienced Omanis
- – Exceptions will only be considered where the expatriate has exceptional, irreplaceable skills
We therefore strongly advise reviewing affected roles and preparing succession plans immediately.
2- WPS Non-Compliance – Immediate Automatic Suspensions and Fines
Despite repeated reminders through newsletters, dedicated alerts, and direct emails, a few companies remain non-compliant with Wage Protection System (WPS) requirements.
MOL has now taken a more severe approach: instead of issuing fines first, they are bypassing the penalty stage and automatically suspending companies and issuing fines with immediate effect.
MOL’s actions are justified. WPS is a core labour-rights mechanism, and non-compliance directly affects employee welfare and financial transparency. As a result, MOL has strengthened enforcement to ensure companies meet their obligations.
Consequences of suspension include:
- No new visas
- Possible inability to renew existing visas
- Company blocked on the MOL system
- Additional and unnecessary administrative work for Bondoni to lift suspensions and process fines
We strongly advise all clients to urgently review their WPS status and ensure:
- All employee details are correct
- Salary submissions meet bank requirements
- Any discrepancies are resolved immediately
3- Omanisation Non-Compliance – Immediate Company Suspensions and Fines
Bondoni has issued multiple alerts, newsletters, and direct emails reminding clients of the government’s clear position on Omanisation. We appreciate that most companies have complied, and we are genuinely grateful for their cooperation. It also means that your business is not continuously interrupted by unnecessary fines and suspensions.
A small number of companies, however, continue to ignore Omanisation requirements and have now faced the consequences.
MOL’s actions are justified. Omanisation is a national priority, and non-compliance directly undermines the government’s workforce strategy. MOL is therefore suspending companies that fail to meet Omanisation ratios.
Consequences include:
- Suspended companies cannot issue new visas
- Possible delays in renewing existing visas
- Additional administrative burdens for Bondoni as we intervene to lift suspensions and resolve compliance issues
Our operational team works extremely hard to advise and deliver for all our clients, and we would highly appreciate those who are still non-compliant to take immediate action based on the guidance we have already provided.
Bondoni also has a vested interest in ensuring that you comply without these unnecessary operational and HR inconveniences. We are always available to give clearly defined guidance on how to conform and avoid being suspended or fined in the future.
Bondoni remains ready to provide operational guidance, exception reviews, and structured compliance planning based on our direct engagement with MOL.