عنوان

Muscat: A fair practice has to be adopted in applying No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for expatriate workers, leader of Tanfeedh Labour Lab, said.
“If an expatriate worker who has completed the two-year job contract and the employer doesn’t have any job to offer for the worker, then the worker should be given a NOC,” Shahswar Al Balushi, the leader of Tanfeedh Labour Lab, told Times TV in a live interview.
Watch: Facebook Live with Shahswar Al Balushi, the leader of Tanfeedh Labour Lab
Currently, expat workers must possess a NOC to change jobs in Oman. Expatriate employees who wish to quit a job in Oman and return to join a new company have to procure a NOC from their employer.
“And if an employer is removing a worker due to no work before the contract ends, then also the worker should be given a NOC or should be allowed to join a company without NOC,” the leader added.
The leader added that it should not scrapped but a balanced approach should be adopted.
“Considering employees and employers concerns, it should not be scrapped. But a fair practice should be adopted which can help both sides,” the leader said adding the Royal Oman Police is studying the issues.
Last month, Said bin Nasser Al Saadi, the advisor to the Minister for Manpower, said in an exclusive interview that the NOC will be removed.
“We will remove the NOC option. It will be removed. The plan is being considered seriously,” he added.
Another advisor at the Ministry of Manpower had also said that ROP and Ministry are holding talks on the same.
According to Tanfeedh, restrictive labour rules are the biggest challenge faced by the Oman labour market.
Mohammed Al Farji, a trade union leader in Oman who is also part of Tanfeedh discussions, said that a fair practice has to be adopted in NOC issue.
“If somebody has completed his 2-year job contract and returned home he should not be stopped form coming back only because he dosen’t have an NOC. However, those who are breaking the contracts and trying to move to other companies should not be given NOC,” the trade unionist added.