MOSD Approves Association of Recruit Offices for Expats: Key Impact on Oman’s Labor Market and Business Opportunities
Muscat: The Ministry of Social Development (MOSD) has issued a decision to establish an association for offices involved in recruiting expatriate workers.
The association will be governed by a board of directors composed of 12 members, each serving a two-year term, with the possibility of re-election. At the initial general assembly meeting following the issuance of the founding decision, only the founders will be eligible to run for board membership.
The association’s primary objective is to regulate and standardize the recruitment profession for expatriate workers, enhancing the performance of recruitment offices in collaboration with government agencies, companies, and institutions both within Oman and internationally.
It aims to uphold recruitment principles that comply fully with the Basic Law of the State and existing laws of the Sultanate of Oman.
The association will represent its member offices before government entities, safeguarding their rights and interests to enable them to operate effectively and in accordance with the law.
Key responsibilities include coordination with embassies through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address issues related to recruitment offices, as well as mediating and resolving disputes involving the offices and workers.
The association will work alongside relevant authorities to eliminate unlicensed recruitment agencies and regulate the labor market in cooperation with government bodies and experts.
Additionally, it will coordinate with government agencies to facilitate the recruitment of suitable labor for Oman. This includes formalizing memoranda of understanding with labor-exporting countries, enabling recruitment from multiple countries, and securing approvals from government authorities, embassies, and consulates accredited in Oman and Gulf states.
Funding for the association will come from member subscriptions, donations, gifts, and bequests (subject to ministerial approval), revenue from activities, government subsidies, and other sources approved by the ministry.
Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market
The establishment of an association to regulate offices recruiting expatriate workers signals a strategic move toward formalizing and standardizing labor recruitment in Oman, ensuring compliance with legal frameworks. For businesses, this presents an opportunity to engage with a more transparent and efficient recruitment ecosystem, reducing risks related to unlicensed agencies. Smart investors and entrepreneurs should consider collaboration with this association to leverage government-backed coordination efforts and access diversified labor sources, enhancing operational stability and growth potential.
