Expatriates in Oman can change their job if representatives of both the companies are present at the Royal Oman Police (ROP) office, with the old employer confirming that there is no objection to the release of the employee.
Speaking to the Observer, Maj Rashid bin Sulaiman al Abri, Public Relations Department, ROP, said: “Reports that are being circulated in the media are not fully correct.”
He said new regulations introduced from January 1, 2016, require the presence of authorised representatives from both sides to attest that they have no objection to the release of the employee from one sponsor to the other. “This decision comes in the wake of several instances of ‘fake’ NOCs being submitted to the police.”
Al Abri said, “These regulations should be taken positively as part of the efforts to streamline the job market and meet the requirements of the industry. It ensures the rights of both the employees and their employers.”
He added, “There are exemptions with regard to certain categories of professions, which are considered judiciously by the immigration officials as per the requirements.”
Al Abri said there are exemptions as visa clearances for certain categories may be in the suspended list.
According to sources, this new move, in pursuance with the Article 11 of Immigration Law pertaining to it, is in the wake of the fact that many employees are taking this facility for granted and are availing some top officials’ signature on the NOCs and getting their sponsorship transferred easily.
As per this law, “Expatriate employees have to exit the country once he/she ceases to work in Oman, but can return to work with a new employer, if he/she has the NOC from the same organisation.”
Most residents of Oman have welcomed this clarification on the part of the ROP, and said that it has helped settle some doubts.
“Sad part is that we still need an NOC for changing jobs in Oman, but there is no blanket ban,” said an expatriate in her Facebook post.
Some posts went on to add that a few rotten apples are making life difficult for the rest.
Article 11 of the Foreign Residence Law states that “For two years it is prohibited to grant entry visa for foreigners workers, who have previously worked in Oman. From the date of last leaving, a foreign national who has been employed in an Omani company will not be granted an entry visa for two years from the date of the last leaving, and the Inspector General may make an exception for such period in the case of public interest.”
Since this has come into force, a foreign national can now also change his employer within Oman, provided, he obtains a “no objection letter from his previous employer addressed to the new employer.”
CLARIFICATION: Additional rules set for expatriate job transfer –
Source: OmanObserver