Part-Time Work for Students in Oman: Rules Under Decision 13/2025

Under Ministerial Decision 13/2025, issued by the Ministry of Labour in January 2025, an Omani student of 15 or older can take a part-time job, with a guardian's written consent. Part-time means 4 to 25 hours a week at a minimum rate of RO 3 an hour (daily minimum four hours, weekly maximum 25). It replaced Decision 115/2021, which decree.om now marks as repealed, and I found no later change as of 6 November 2026.

The Labour Law (Royal Decree 53/2023) leaves the detail to the Ministry: Article 17 says part-time work is regulated by ministerial decision.

Who can do it

• Omani nationals only. The Observer's summary says part-time employment under the decision is limited to Omanis.
• Students, plus job seekers and retirees, according to the Observer. DLA Piper describes the rules as covering private-sector employees, students over 15 (including higher education) and registered job seekers.
• Students must be enrolled in a public or private school, be at least 15, and bring written guardian consent on the Ministry's form.
• Their studies and support are protected. The work must not cost the student any financial allocation from their institution.
• No school approval needed. The student receives an experience certificate when the job ends.

The working terms

| Term | Rule | |---|---| | Hours | At least 4 a day, at most 25 a week | | Pay | At least RO 3 an hour. A lower rate may be agreed, though outlets disagree on whether the Ministry must approve it first | | Contract | In writing, stating hours, days, hourly wage and how it is paid. A copy goes to the Ministry | | Ending the job | Either side can end it with at least three business days' written notice |

What employers must do

• Define the tasks and give the training the job needs.
• Meet occupational health and safety requirements.
• Pay wages as Article 90 of the Labour Law requires.
• Register the worker with the social security system and pay contributions.
• Send the contract to the Ministry.

What is not settled

The older Decision 115/2021 limited student work to the mid-year and end-of-year school vacations and to 73 listed professions. One Observer report says the new decision removes those limits. Another Observer report from the same day repeats them as background without saying whether they still stand. I could not read the full text of Decision 13/2025, so I cannot confirm either way. Before you hire a student during term time, or for a job outside the usual student roles, ask the Ministry in writing.

The same goes for the lower-than-RO 3 wage: some reports say the Ministry's prior approval is needed, others only say it can be negotiated.

Next steps

Employers hiring a student should collect the guardian form, write the contract, register the worker, and send the contract to the Ministry before work starts. Students and parents should keep the contract and the experience certificate. For help setting up a business that hires locally, see our company registration service.