Oman’s visa ban which currently limits expat jobs across 87 professions could be extended as per local job market needs, according to a top official at the Ministry of Manpower.
The six-month ban will expire at the end of January 2019, but may be extended for another half year, Salim bin Nasser Al Hadhrami, Director General of Planning and Development at the Manpower Ministry told Times of Oman.
Some of the professions fall in sectors such as information systems, accounting and finance, sales and marketing, administration, human resources and insurance.
The decision will depend on the success of providing job opportunities to locals in the 87 professions.
The ban which was imposed on January 28, 2018 was also originally aimed at regulating the labour market and reducing the recruitment of expat labour force in Oman. It was then extended to another six months in July.
The ban does not apply to companies registered with the Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development and insured with the Public Authority for Social Insurance (PASI).
