Expat workers’ permit fees hike to curb hidden trade

The decision will work to Omanise the number of technical and specialised jobs, such as engineering specialties. It will also provide facilities for small and medium enterprises, help regulate the labour market, and fight the hidden trade

The decision to increase permit fees of expatriates will help regulate the labour market in the country by curbing the hidden trade also create job opportunities for Omanis in supervisory positions, the government said on Sunday.

The Youth and Human Resources Committee of Majlis Ash’shura discussed on Sunday the implications of the Ministry of Labour’s decision to increase the expatriate worker’s permit fees and their impact on small and medium enterprises, and the ministerial decision to change the requirements regarding small and medium enterprises.

Majlis Ash’shura hosted Shaikh Nasr bin Amer al Hosani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour for Labour, and Halima bint Rashid al Zarea, Chair of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority, to seek their opinion.

During the meeting, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour confirmed the decision to increase the fees for a foreign worker’s permit for specified categories and jobs, including leadership and supervisory positions, technical and specialised jobs.

He said that the decision is in the interest of the citizens as it allows them to compete in leadership and supervisory positions in private institutions, and this is one of the recommendations of the Majlis Ash’shura following its study on the Omanisation of supervisory and leadership positions.

He added the decision will work to Omanise the number of technical and specialised jobs, such as engineering specialties. It will also provide facilities for small and medium enterprises, help regulate the labour market, and fight the hidden trade.

The Chair of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority said the facilities and incentives provided to small and medium enterprises would support these institutions and ensure their sustainability by creating a stimulating environment for enterprises and entrepreneurs.

She said that the decision to increase the fees for an expatriate worker’s permit has been studied to ensure that it does not pose a challenge to the owners of small and medium enterprises.

She also talked about the Entrepreneur Card that the authority grants to entrepreneurs who meet the conditions to obtain various facilities and give them priority in awarding tenders and purchases. During her discussion, she dealt with the reasons and justifications for the conditions pertaining to the age of the institution and its owner.

Companies operating in Oman need to be careful as a new brand of cheats are issuing bogus appointment letters from a foreign land by forging letterheads, seals and other relevant documents of Omani companies.

One such case came to light recently when the top officials of an Omani company started receiving calls from ‘candidates’ who started asking for the modalities of their arrival in Oman to join the ‘new jobs’.

To the management’s utter surprise, the candidates were sent offer letters on the company’s letterhead with office seal and signature. All these documents were found to be forged as the company in question did not have any plan to do hiring for any of those positions.

The fraudsters advertised for the positions, did interview and issued offer letters by using forged official stationary of the Oman Construction and Engineering Company.

The company’s Managing Director, Rakesh Jha, came to know about the fraud when he received the first call from a ‘shortlisted candidate’ who was keen to know about the job modalities, office location, and other job-related things.

“And from then calls from many other ‘candidates’ came. Not less than 100 calls and mostly from the young job aspirants, who sounded happy about the job, but were very upset when we cleared our stand that we did not advertise any jobs in India and someone did fraud in our company’s name,” said Rakesh Jha.

A total of 774 positions were announced in the advertisement with salaries ranging from RO 190 to 250. The fake job advertisement had all possible details like, “period of employment: 11 months; place of employment: Sultanate of Oman; Working hours: 8 hours, probation period: 1 month; company-owned medical, accommodation, transport, food, and visa for joining. It also had mention of four-hour over-time policy of the company.”

The most surprising element for the Oman Construction and Engineering Company management was the announcement of foreign contact details in the advertisement, which were active.

“At a time when we are fighting the slowdown caused by the Covid-19, this new problem has put us on our toes. We raised the issue at all possible forums and still looking for options so that people involved behind the act are caught and innocent job-seekers are not cheated,” said Rakesh Jha.

The fraudsters advertised for the positions, did interview and issued offer letters by using forged official stationary of the Oman Construction and Engineering Company