Oman’s Ministry of Labour (MOL) has issued updated regulations for the Wage Protection System (WPS) under Ministerial Resolution No. 729/2024, aimed at strengthening transparency in salary payments and protecting workers’ rights. The resolution was published in the Official Gazette on 15 December 2024.
Under the new rules, employers must ensure that at least 75% of their workforce is paid through the WPS starting with September 2025 wages, payable in October. This threshold will rise to 90% for November 2025 wages, payable in December. Failure to comply could result in financial penalties.
The WPS, aligned with Royal Decree No. 53/2023, monitors electronic wage transfers in the private sector, requiring payments to be processed via banks or financial institutions regulated by the Central Bank of Oman.
Key amendments include shorter timelines for wage disbursement, broader exemption categories, and enhanced Ministry oversight. Exemptions apply in cases such as labour disputes exceeding 30 days, work stoppages beyond the employer’s control, approved absconding cases after 30 days, newly hired workers who have not completed one month of service, and employees on unpaid leave.
The labour ministry emphasised that timely wage transfers are essential to ensuring fair labour practices and urged employers to prepare early to meet the phased compliance deadlines.
According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information, Oman had 864,600 Omani workers across all sectors as of June 2025.