When can I go on Vacation? : Leave Allowance under Omani Labour Law.

Most of us work (myself included) with the intention of saving up for a nice relaxing and rejuvenating holiday break, whether it be abroad or spending quality time at home. Some employers do sneakily try to cut your holiday time especially with expats as they are not aware of the country’s laws and their own rights. 

Annual Leave

Omani Labour law gives an employee the right to 30 days paid leave according to the amendments to the law in Royal Decree 113/2011. These holidays can be redeemed after completion of the six months of employment. The employer may decide to postpone the holiday or split up the annual leave depending work/business requirements. 

If an employee resigns or is terminated before making use of all their leave days, he/she are entitled to a salary payment based on the remaining leave days available if any according to Article 64 of Omani Labour Law RD 35/2003. 

Bare in mind that if an employee is found to have been working for another employee during their leave, the employer has the right to deprive the employee of his/her salary or recover any money paid to them during that period. 

Emergency Leave

According to the amendments made in RD 113/2011 to the Labour Law and to Ministerial Decision 527/2011, employees are entitled to 6 days emergency leave. These are to be utilized when a sudden uncontrollable situation occurs that is out of the employee’s control – these can’t be more than two days at time. The employee is entitled to his/her full salary during those days.

Sick Leave

The law provides each employee with a sick leave not exceeding 10 weeks per year (continuous or divided up). The employee should provide a medical certificate from a doctor as evidence for the employer to be put in his/her employee file. Not all sick leaves are paid, see below how the law divides this up:

1. First 2 weeks – Full Salary
2. Next 2 weeks – 75% of Full Salary 
3. Next 2 weeks – 50% of Full Salary
4. Next 4 weeks – 25% of Full Salary

Article 43 states that if the employee’s sick leave exceeds 10 weeks, preventing him/her from continuing their work, the employee has the right to terminate their employment.

Weekends

Omani Labour Law provides that employees must have two consecutive days rest after 5 consecutive working days according to Article 71 along with its amendments. In practice, employees may be asked to work for 6 consecutive days with one day weekly rest if it is provided in their contract and agreed upon. In certain cases the employee may be required to work on a weekend where he/she will be compensated an extra leave day in exchange (as per agreement).

Maternity Leave

The law provides working mothers with 50 days paid maternity leave that can be availed pre and post maternity. This leave can be extended if required with supporting medical reports and certificates.

Special Leaves

Article 67 gives the employee a right to a ‘special leave’with gross salary in certain circumstances identified below:

1. 3 days in case of marriage (once during employment)
2. 3 days in case of a death of a son or a daughter or a mother or a father, or a wife, or a grandfather or a grandmother or a brother or a sister 
3. 2 days in case of the death of an uncle or aunt
4. 130 days in case of the death of a husband of a Muslim female employee.
5. 15 days for the holy pilgrimage of Hajj. This is to be utilized only after 1 year of continuous employment.
6. 15 days in one year for examinations for Omani employees who study in one of the schools, institutes, colleges or universities in the Sultanate. 

Public Holiday

Article 65 of the law entitles all employees to a holiday during all public holidays decided by the Minister with gross salary.

 An employee may be required to work, on an official holiday in which case he will be entitled to either receive his gross salary for the official holiday with an excess of no less than 25%, or take a rest day in exchange. 

To conclude, Omani Labour law sets out various types of leaves that an employee working in the Sultanate is able to utilize. This list will be updated if at all any announcement or changes are made to leave allowance and the types of leave mentioned. 

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