Rights and Duties of Domestic Workers in Oman

As the days passed that Juan in Oman is constantly providing news and information for our kababayans in Oman, almost each post in our Facebook page have a comment that is complaining regarding their work situation.

Most of the comments are coming from our dear kababayans who works as a Domestic helper.

Sultanate of Oman through the Ministry of Manpower has an existing Labor law, unfortunately, in Chapter Two of the said Labor Law – General and Transitional Provisions, Article (2) item number 3 states that – “Domestic servants working inside houses or outside houses such as a driver, maid and a cook and those with similar jobs.”

Check out the Oman Labor Law – https://www.juaninoman.com/oman-labour-law/

But don’t worry, Ministry of Manpower confirmed that they are planning more legal protection for domestic workers.

“Either in the new labour law or as a separate chapter, we have plans to legalise their rights and provide better protection to domestic workers,” Said Salem Al Saadi, the advisor to the Minister of Manpower.

Earlier this year, Oman Human Rights Commission (OHRC) have published the Human Rights Handbook for Expat where it contains the rights and duties of domestic workers in Oman and it is writes as follows:

Domestic workers enjoy a range of rights as prescribed by Ministerial Decision No. 189/2004.

Rights of the domestic workers

1. Receiving the monthly salary agreed upon in no more than 7 days from the end of the working month ( or as agreed upon by the two parties) and signing on the necessary document to acknowledge the receipt
2. Getting adequate food and acceptable shelter from the employer
3. Receiving necessary medical treatment by the employer for the duration of the contract
4. Receiving a return ticket paid by the local recruitment office within 180 days from the date of arrival if it was found that the worker is assigned to a job different from the one that was stated in the official documents, or that he/she suffers from mental illness or diagnosed with communicated diseases, or has disability that hinders him/her from working
5. Receiving a return ticket paid by the employer after the end of the contract period or if employer breached the contract
6. Enjoying adequate rest breaks during the day
7. Enjoying a monthly rest or as stipulated in the employment contract
8. Enjoying a decent holiday at the end of the employment contract
9. Receiving respectful and proper humane treatment that preserves his/her dignity

Duties of domestic workers

1. Commitment to work with the employer throughout the contracted period.
2. Protecting the employer’s property and refraining from using them for individual purposes.
3. Observing family secrets and privacy and refraining from inviting others to the house without prior permission from the employer.
4. Respecting Islam and social values and norms whilst adhering to the existing laws and regulations.
5. Avoid participation in activities that might harm the security of the country.
6. Avoid working for another employer until waiver procedures and other documents are completed.
7. Avoid the use of harmful substances against the employer and other family members.
8. Avoid abusing or harassing children, women and vulnerable members in the family in order to avoid legal action.
9. Avoid escaping or leaving work as a solution to remedy work disputes, as that might pardon the employer from any legal responsibility once you were reported missing.
10. Avoid temptations offered by strangers that may lead to human trafficking and personal abuse.

If the above list of rights is not met by your employer, you have all the capabilities and rights to complain to the proper authority, we will discuss the process on how to settle a dispute in our upcoming post.

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