São Paulo – The Omani government wants to limit the number of expatriate workers to 33% of the country’s total population. At present, there are 1.3 million expatriates in the country, i.e. 39% of the sultanate’s population. The information was released by the website of the United Arab Emirates’ Arabian Business magazine.
The measure aims to increase the number of jobs available to Omani citizens. The minimum wage for the local population will also increase from 200 rials (US$ 519) to 325 rials (US$ 845) next July.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Omani unemployment rate was 20% in 2010. A date is yet to be set for the 33% target to be accomplished.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum