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Article 70 of Oman’s Labour Law issued under Royal Decree 53/2023 prohibits employers from requiring more than eight actual working hours per day or 40 hours per week according to the text of the legislation that replaced the 2003 law. The Oman Observer detailed that these figures exclude a mandatory one-hour daily break for rest and meals while continuous stretches of work cannot exceed six hours without interruption. Legal summaries from aromanlaw.com confirm the law took effect the day after its publication in the Official Gazette in July 2023 giving employers six months to align existing practices.
The Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment of Pakistan released guidance on these working hour limits as ARY News reported on April 23 2026 to raise awareness among Pakistani nationals employed in or seeking jobs in the Sultanate. ARY News added that the provisions aim to protect employee health well-being and productivity across the private sector where many overseas workers are active. The ministry’s clarification underscores transparency requirements embedded in the legislation for all covered establishments.
Employers must display a clear schedule of daily and weekly working hours and rest periods in a visible location at the workplace according to explicit stipulations in Article 70 of the Labour Law. The law enacted by Royal Decree 53/2023 further mandates that relevant authorities can monitor compliance through these posted timetables. Oman Observer accounts note that special ministerial decisions may address exceptions for technical or operational reasons where rest periods require adjustment.
During the month of Ramadan working hours for Muslim employees drop to a maximum of six per day or 30 per week under the same article of the 2023 legislation. This reduction aligns with longstanding regional practices and was carried over from the prior labour framework while the overall daily cap represents a one-hour cut from the previous nine-hour standard. Summaries prepared by Addleshaw Goddard confirm the change forms part of broader updates that also revised overtime compensation and leave entitlements.
The Labour Law applies to all private sector employers and workers in Oman except those governed by separate statutes as outlined in the decree issued by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. With expatriates comprising a substantial share of the workforce Pakistani authorities have emphasised these rules to prevent exploitation and ensure informed employment decisions. ARY News coverage of the Bureau’s advisory highlights the regulation’s role in maintaining balanced labour relations amid ongoing economic diversification efforts.
Overtime remains possible beyond the eight-hour threshold when work demands it but requires employee consent and cannot push total daily hours above 12 according to provisions in Articles 71 and 72. Compensation for such additional time must include at least a 25 percent premium for daytime hours and 50 percent for night work or equivalent time off the law states. These safeguards first introduced in the 2023 decree have been welcomed in legal analyses as strengthening worker protections while allowing operational flexibility for businesses.
