Saturday 18 / October / 2025
Oman’s Ministry of Labour has newly promulgated Ministerial Decision No. 574/2025, establishing the Governance Regulation for Domestic Workers and their Equivalents. Issued pursuant to the Labour Law under Royal Decree 53/2023, this Decision establishes a structured legal framework that defines clear rights and obligations governing the employment of domestic workers and their equivalents.
Speaking exclusively to the Times of Oman, Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Zadjali, Founding Partner of Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm, stated that “the Regulation covers a defined list of professions, including nannies, domestic workers, drivers, gardeners, and home health aides. Employers are obligated to provide suitable living accommodations, cover health insurance, and ensure fair treatment that preserves the worker’s dignity, safety, and health. They must also create a dedicated file for each worker and are firmly prohibited from imposing forced labour or withholding the worker’s passport without written consent.”
“A critical safeguard within the rules prohibits employers from assaulting workers or assigning them any dangerous work that threatens their safety or human dignity. Workers, in turn, have a duty to perform the agreed-upon work, respect the country’s laws and social traditions, treat the employer’s family well, and preserve the employer’s property and secrets,” Dr. Mohammed explained.
He further stated that “the framework mandates a detailed written employment contract in Arabic, which must be registered electronically with the ministry. The contract must include terms like working hours, which must not exceed 12 hours per day, rest periods, the monthly wage, and the date of its payment. Furthermore, the decision outlines specific entitlements for the worker, including a weekly rest day, paid annual leave of not less than 21 days, and paid sick leave of up to 30 days per year.”
“The Regulation affirms that workers with a service period of at least two years are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity, and that all disputes will be adjudicated under Oman’s Labour Law, with workers exempt from judicial fees at all litigation stages,” he added.
He concluded by stating that the decision affirms that all domestic workers retain the full spectrum of rights and obligations guaranteed under Oman’s Labour Law.
* (Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm ([email protected]), (+968 244 87 600) was established 18 years ago and is serving clients through its offices in Muscat and Sohar, as well as operating on a request basis in other areas. It offers legal representation across a wide range of practice areas that include Labour Law, Corporate, Commercial, Contracts, Banking and Finance, International Trade, Foreign Investment, Insurance, Maritime Law, Construction and Engineering Contracts, International Arbitration, Intellectual Property and more).
