Oman’s Ministry of Labour (MoL) has highlighted the challenges facing private-sector employers in Dhofar as it seeks to improve employment systems, strengthen training and make labour-market services more responsive to businesses.
The issues were discussed during the Labour Forum 2026 in Dhofar, where Minister of Labour H E Dr Mahad bin Saeed Baawain met employers and investors at the Dhofar branch of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Sunday.
The session focused on how Oman can better align workforce policies with the needs of businesses and changing economic conditions.
Discussions covered employment and training programmes for Omani nationals, as well as the need to bring educational outcomes closer to labour-market requirements. The ministry also sought feedback from employers on challenges affecting employment and business operations.
The forum points to a broader challenge for Oman’s labour market: balancing the development of national talent with the operational needs of private-sector businesses. Direct engagement with employers could help identify gaps in skills, recruitment and training while allowing policymakers to adjust employment programmes to changing economic conditions.
At the same time, the ministry’s latest inspection figures show that labour-law compliance remains a significant issue.
During the first six months of 2026, the MoL conducted 3,992 field inspections across Oman to monitor compliance with the Labour Law and related ministerial decisions. The overall compliance rate stood at 69.5%.
The ministry also carried out 2,915 inspection and awareness visits focused on occupational health and safety. Of the establishments assessed, 1,728 were found to be fully compliant.
Businesses found to be in breach faced measures ranging from guidance and verbal warnings to written notices and formal violation reports.
The inspections also identified 11,127 expatriate workers violating labour regulations during the six-month period. Of these, 2,944 were deported and 4,680 cases were referred to the Public Prosecution.
The figures underline the enforcement side of Oman’s efforts to regulate the labour market, alongside its push to work more closely with employers on workforce development.
For private-sector businesses, the combination of tighter compliance monitoring and greater consultation could mean increased attention to employment practices, occupational safety and the use of expatriate labour. For policymakers, the Dhofar discussions highlight the need to ensure that Omanisation, skills development and business requirements remain aligned as economic conditions evolve.
The ministry said its inspections are intended to support a fair and safe workplace, protect the rights of workers and employers, and improve the regulation and efficiency of Oman’s labour market.