Two Hours Less Work, Full Pay: Disability and Caregiver Rights in Oman

Employees in Oman who have a moderate or severe disability, and employees who care for a child, spouse or parent with one, are entitled to two fewer working hours per day without any reduction in pay. The right comes from Article 50 of the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Where the right comes from

The law was issued as Royal Decree 92/2025 on 27 October 2025 and published in the Official Gazette on 2 November 2025. By its own terms it comes into force the day after publication, which points to 3 November 2025. One law-firm summary dates it a day earlier (26 October), so treat the issue date as approximate and use the gazette date. It replaced the older disability law, Royal Decree 63/2008.

This is separate from the Labour Law (Royal Decree 53/2023), which sets the normal limits of 8 working hours a day and 40 a week. The disability law gives eligible employees a shorter day on top of that.

I could not open the text of Article 50 itself, because the full law on decree.om is behind a login. The description here comes from the Oman Observer's report of 16 November 2025 and is consistent with a Times of Oman piece from August 2026.

Who qualifies

• An employee or worker with a moderate or severe disability.
• An employee or worker who is the caregiver of a child, spouse or parent with a moderate or severe disability.

Mild disability is not mentioned in the reports. A carer for a brother, sister or other relative is not covered by the wording reported.

What to give your employer

Reporting on the rule lists these documents:

| Who | Proof | |---|---| | Employee with a disability | Proof of the disability, such as the disability card issued by the Ministry of Social Development | | Caregiver | Proof of the relationship (child, parent or spouse), proof that the person is classed as moderate or severe under the approved assessment, and an official document showing that you are the designated caregiver |

The caregiver documents come from the "competent authority", which the reports do not name. Ask the Ministry of Social Development which office issues them.

What is still unclear

• Executive regulations. The decree says the Minister of Social Development issues them. I did not find that they have been published, so details such as how the hours are scheduled, whether you can take the time as a shorter shift or a late start, and how employers record it are not confirmed.
• No application form. The reports describe handing documents to your employer. They do not describe a Ministry form or a deadline.
• Part-time and shift workers. Nothing I found says how the two hours work for them.

Practical steps

For employees: gather the card or caregiver documents first, then put the request to your employer in writing and keep a copy. For employers: agree a clear way to apply the reduction and keep the documents on file, since the pay must not fall.

More on employment rules in Oman is in our blog.