Approx 10,000 foreign workers lose their jobs in Oman

The National Centre for Statistical Information did not state the reason of the job losses but recorded a dip from 1.67 million foreign workers in February this year to 1.66 million in March and 1.65 million in April. The data for May have not yet been released.

Analysts say that the coronavirus pandemic is the main driver of job losses in the sultanate.

“I would say about 80 per cent of them have been made redundant due to the virus pandemic while the other 20 per cent due to normal employment adjustments. We expect more of them are going to lose their jobs in the coming months,” Said Al Kharusi, an economic analyst, said.

Oman said the pandemic has killed 37 people from a total of 8,118 infected people.

Statements released by several top private business companies in Oman said they “regretted” having to let go expatriate workers due to the challenges of the pandemic.

Government organizations like Oman Aviation Group, which controls national airline Oman Air, also released a similar statement last month.

Other analysts warned that more expatriates are set to lose their jobs as the government is expected to stick to spending cuts with a drop in oil prices.