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Oman: 46,000 expats left in six months

March 24, 2021 at 3:22 pm

Passengers, wearing protective face mask due to the Covid-19 pandemic, stand in a queue at the Muscat international airport in the Omani capital on October 1, 2020 [MOHAMMED MAHJOUB/AFP via Getty Images]

The Omani Ministry of Labour yesterday revealed that more than 46,000 expatriate workers permanently left the Sultanate over the last six months, local media reported.

“The total number of the workforce wishing to rectify their status and leave the country permanently has reached 65,173 workers, of whom 46,355 have actually left the Sultanate,” the ministry said on Twitter.

It explained that the grace period granted to expatriate workers to rectify their status and leave the country “permanently” will expire on 31 March, noting that any requests received after this date will not be considered.

Earlier, the Omani Ministry of Labour announced that expats leaving the country will be exempt from paying fines they have accumulated during their stay in Oman, provided they depart permanently.

The decision was valid until the end of 2020 but was later extended to 31 March.

The ministry’s decision is part of a national plan to increase the employment rate among its nationals.

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