Sunday 19 / May / 2024
Muscat: Expats looking to switch jobs can do it now after the No Objection Certificate (NOC) system has been scrapped.
The changes were supposed to happen from January 1, 2021 but were delayed because of a technical glitch which took place in the Ministry of Labour system.
Speaking to the Times of Oman, an official from the Ministry of Labour said, “There was a technical glitch in the Ministry of Labour system, but that has been rectified.”
He also confirmed that the system is currently working and the ministry has started receiving applications from the expats who are willing to switch their jobs.
Speaking to the Times of Oman, an official from the Royal Oman Police (ROP) said, “The ROP has started implementing the decision that was issued regarding the cancellation of the NOC according to the rule.”
He also said that the work contract must be approved by the Ministry of Labour first. This comes after several expats looking to change jobs complained that they can’t do as they heard that the NOC rule still has not been cancelled.
“When we approached the ministry, we were told that you still require NOC to change jobs,” an expat told the Times of Oman. In June 2020, the government announced the removal of the NOC system enabling expats to switch jobs from January 1, 2021. “It was supposed to happen from January 1, but eventually we started from January 21 because of the technical glitch,” the official said.
He also said, “Changing jobs is not linked to your visa, but rather the duration of the employment contract.” Some companies in Oman hand out contracts ranging between three to 12 months. Technically, expats are free to join another organisation once this period has ended.
Expats, however, can’t join a direct competitor, according to the documents shared by the Government Communications Centre with the Times of Oman. The rules concerning the removal of the NOC hold good for both non-Omanis working in companies in the country, as well as domestic workers. The documents also state that the expats are not allowed to divulge any confidential information on their old company to their new employers.
“This can also be done by signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and a non-competition agreement,” the Government Communications Centre said.
“Employment contracts can include a ‘non-competition clause’, as is the practice followed by many countries, across various sectors,” it explained. “An example of this clause is one signed by lawyers in the US, which prevents them from working for a direct competitor for a certain duration.”
Once his/her current contract has expired, the expat worker has the choice to continue working for their current employers, should he be able to, or leave and move elsewhere. “The rights of both parties can be included in the work contract between the worker and employer,” added the Government Communications Centre.
