Oman Sets Minimum Paid Leave for Workers: What Job Seekers Should Know
Here’s what job seekers need to know about eligibility, sick leave, and emergency leave rules.
Workers in Oman are now entitle to 30 days of paid annual leave after completing six months of service under the country’s Labour Law. The law also provides paid leave for events such as marriage, childbirth, and bereavement, although some entitlements depend on the worker’s circumstances and nationality.
For people planning to work in Oman, knowing which leave benefits apply can help avoid disputes with employers and make it easier to understand an employment contract.
How many days of annual leave can workers take?
Article 78 of Oman’s Labour Law guarantees workers at least 30 days of annual leave on full wages after six months of service.
Workers must arrange their leave with their employer, as dates may depend on business needs. Under Article 81, an employer can postpone annual leave for up to six months when work requirements justify the delay.
Employees who leave their jobs with unused annual leave are entitled to payment at full wages for the outstanding balance. The law also allows payment at the basic wage for unused leave days if the employee agrees in writing.
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For expatriate workers, Article 78 provides for a return air ticket to their home country and back to their workplace for the leave agreed in their employment contract.
Which family and personal events qualify for paid leave?
Article 84 sets out several circumstances in which workers can take paid special leave. The number of days depends on the event.
Workers are entitled to three days for their own marriage. The death of a parent, grandparent, brother, or sister qualifies for three days, while the death of an uncle, aunt, maternal uncle, or maternal aunt qualifies for two days.
The law provides 10 days following the death of a wife or child. Eligible fathers can take seven days of paternity leave, provided the child is born alive and the leave is taken within the first 98 days of the child’s life.
Female employees are entitled to 98 days of maternity leave, subject to the law’s conditions. A Muslim woman whose husband dies is entitled to 130 days of leave, while a non-Muslim woman is entitled to 14 days.
Workers who have completed at least one continuous year with their employer can take 15 days of Hajj leave once during their employment.
Some provisions apply specifically to Omani nationals. Omani workers enrolled in qualifying educational programmes can receive up to 15 days of examination leave annually. Eligible Omani workers can also receive up to 15 days a year to accompany a sick spouse or relative up to the second degree of kinship.
Employees should check the relevant eligibility requirements and documentation before applying for any of these entitlements.
Does Oman provide six days of paid emergency leave?
The current Labour Law does not establish a general entitlement to six days of paid emergency leave for all workers in the provisions reviewed.
Article 80 allows employers to grant unpaid special leave at a worker’s request, but it does not require employers to approve every request.
If a family or personal emergency arises, employees should inform their employer and check whether the circumstances qualify for one of the paid leave categories under the law. If no specific entitlement applies, they may need to request annual leave or unpaid leave.
What if a worker becomes ill?
Sick leave is separate from annual leave. Under Article 82, eligible workers can receive up to 182 days of sick leave in a year, provided the illness is established according to the applicable requirements.
The law sets out the following wage payments during sick leave:
- The first 21 days are paid at 100% of the total wage.
- Days 22 to 35 are paid at 75%.
- Days 36 to 70 are paid at 50%.
- Days 71 to 182 are paid at 35%.
Workers should follow the applicable medical certification and absence-reporting procedures to establish their entitlement.
What should job seekers check before accepting a job?
Before signing an employment contract, job seekers should confirm the annual leave entitlement, when they can first take it and how the employer handles leave requests.
It is also worth asking about additional company benefits, including emergency leave, because employers may offer arrangements beyond the statutory minimum.
Understanding the difference between annual leave, sick leave, and special leave can help workers know what they are entitled to and what requires their employer’s approval.
Workers who are unsure about their rights can seek clarification from Oman’s Ministry of Labour.
