Thursday 30 / January / 2025
Muscat: The Ministry of Labour in the Sultanate of Oman has issued a set of guidelines to assist employers in accurately processing wage transfers through the Wage Protection System (WPS). These guidelines are designed to ensure compliance with regulations and facilitate timely and accurate wage payments to employees.
Key points highlighted in the guidelines include:
1. Accurate Month and Year Indication: The month and year fields should clearly reflect the month for which wages are due, not the month in which the payment is made. For instance, wages for December 2024 transferred on 2nd January 2025 should be recorded as pertaining to December 2024.
2. Correct Employee Identification: The ID type should be specified as "Civil Number" or an abbreviation used by the bank, aligning with the Civil Number on the identity card for Omani nationals or the residence card for non-Omani residents. The identifier value should correspond to the Civil Number. For bank accounts registered using passport numbers, the code "P" can be used, with the identifier value being the passport number.
3. Accurate Employer Identification: The "Employer CR Number" field should accurately reflect the employer's Commercial Registration Number.
4. Adherence to Employment Contracts: A valid employment contract must be in place for all workers. Wages transferred should align with the terms and conditions outlined in the contract. Any additional allowances, overtime pay, or deductions should be accurately specified in the designated fields.
These guidelines are of paramount importance for employers to ensure compliance with the Wage Protection System, a crucial mechanism for ensuring the proper and legal transfer of wages to employees in Oman.
