Country profile OMN
National Legal Framework
National Legal Framework
| Provision | Legislation date | Convention | Legislation info | sources | Value | sort_order | Provision description | Legislation description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 1999-03-06 | C182 | Royal Decree 17/99 Promulgating the Law on Combating Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances - Article 43 | [{"link_name":"Royal Decree 17/99 Promulgating the Law on Combating Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances","source_link":"https://sherloc.unodc.org/cld/uploads/res/document/omn/law-on-the-control-of-narcotic-drugs_html/Law_on_the_Control_of_Narcotic_Drugs_and_Psychotropic_Substances_oman.pdf"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | Article 43 of the Law punishes any person who has "1. Imported, exported, produced or manufactured narcotic substances or psychotropic substances listed in Schedules 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the first group and Schedule 1 of the second group, in circumstances other than those legally authorized, or who has smuggled them with the intention of trafficking in them. 2. Cultivated, exported or imported any of the plants listed in Schedule 5 of the first group attached to this law or any part thereof at any stage of their growth or their seeds, in circumstances other than those legally authorized, or who has smuggled them at any stage of their growth or who has smuggled their seeds with the intention of trafficking. 3. Financed himself or through third parties any of the actions stipulated in paragraphs 1 and 2"; and raises the sentence to death penalty for the commission of such crimes with the use of a minor. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2018-01-11 | C182 | Royal Decree 7/2018 on Penal Law - Article 254 | [{"link_name":"Royal Decree 7/2018 on Penal Law","source_link":"https://oman.om/docs/default-source/default-document-library/omani-penal-law.pdf?sfvrsn=64250c36_2"}] | Yes | 10 | C182 prohibits the use of a child under the age of 18 for prostitution, regardless of the child's consent. The use, procuring or offering of any person under the age of 18 for commercial sexual exploitation constitutes a worst form of child labour, even if prostitution is a legalised. In regard to the prohibition of child pornography, States need to make sure that national legislation addresses the involvement of a child in the production of pornographic materials, including non-recorded performances. | Article 254 of the Law punishes "whoever incites, lures into, seduces to, entices to, or assists a person in, using any means, prostitution or debauchery, and this leads to the commission of the act". The sentence for the committing of such crime is raised if the person assaulted has not completed 18 years. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 2014-05-19 | C182 | Royal Decree No. 22/2014 Promulgating the Child Law - Article (1) and Article (55) | [{"link_name":"Royal Decree No. 22/2014 Promulgating the Child Law","source_link":"https://oman.om/docs/default-source/default-document-library/child-lawe08c75f29e404631be4b408bde1861e7.pdf?sfvrsn=5a3bbfdf_4"}] | Yes | 9 | C182 defines forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict as a worst form of child labour. Nevertheless, C182 only prohibits the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18, and does not cover the voluntary recruitment of children under 18. | Article (1) defines a child as anyone below the age of 18 years. Article (55) of the Decree states that "the forced recruitment of children in armed forces, their recruitment in armed groups or their direct involvement in military actions shall be prohibited". It adds that "voluntary enlistment in armed forces is permitted to children who have completed sixteen years of age". |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2008-11-23 | C182 | Royal Decree No 126 / 2008, Anti-Trafficking Law - Article 1 ; Article 2. ; Article 8. and Article 9. a. | [{"link_name":"Royal Decree No 126 / 2008, Anti-Trafficking Law","source_link":"https://nccht.om/wp-content/uploads/Oman-Human-Trafficking-Law-English.pdf"}] | Yes | 8 | C182 defines all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour as worst forms of child labour. | Article 8. of the Law prohibits human trafficking which Article 2. defines as the action of anyone that, a. uses, transfers, shelters, or receives a person by coercion, under threat, trick, exploitation of position or power, exploitation of weakness, by use of authority over that person, or by any other illegal means directly or indirectly; and b. uses, transfers, shelters or receive a minor, even if the means mentioned in the preceding paragraph are not used". Article 9 considers it an aggravating circumstance to commit such a crime against a minor, which Article 1. defines as a person under the age of 18 years. |
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 2016 | C138 & C182 | Ministry of Manpower Order 217/2016 - Article 5 | [{"link_name":"Ministry of Manpower Order 217/2016","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/104032/217-2016.pdf"}] | Yes | 7 | C138 and C182 require the national determination of a list of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years of age. The competent authorities should consult with workers' and employers' organizations to determine what types of employment or work are considered to be hazardous. Such a list shall be periodically examined and revised as necessary. | Article 5 of the Order states that no children should be employed in jobs and professions other than the one listed in the annex of the Text, thus implying that all the activities unlisted in the latter constitute hazardous work prohibited to children. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 2014-05-19 | C138 & C182 | Royal Decree No. 22/2014 Promulgating the Child Law - Article (1) d) and Article (45) | [{"link_name":"Royal Decree No. 22/2014 Promulgating the Child Law","source_link":"https://oman.om/docs/default-source/default-document-library/child-lawe08c75f29e404631be4b408bde1861e7.pdf?sfvrsn=5a3bbfdf_4"}] | 18 | 6 | C138 and C182 set 18 as the minimum age for hazardous work, which is defined as work that, due to its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to jeopardize children’s health, safety or morals. C138 and C182 allow countries to permit hazardous work exceptionally as from 16, provided that the health, safety and morals of the young persons concerned are fully protected and that they have received adequate specific instruction or training. | Article 1 d) of the Decree defines a child as a human being below the age of 18 years. Article 45 prohibits the employment of "any child in activities or industries which, by their nature or due to the conditions under which they are carried out, are likely to be harmful for his or her health, safety or ethical behavior". |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | N/A | C138 | N/A | [{"link_name":"N/A","source_link":"N/A"}] | No | 5 | C138 does not apply to work done in school for general, vocational or technical education or in training institutions or work done by children at least 14 years of age in undertakings, where such work is carried out in accordance with conditions prescribed by the competent authority. Such work must be an integral part of: (i) a course of education or training for which a school or training institution is primarily responsible; (ii) a programme of training mainly or entirely in an undertaking, which programme has been approved by the competent authority; or (iii) a programme of guidance or orientation designed to facilitate the choice of an occupation or of a line of training. | No information were found about the minimum age for admission to apprenticeship in the legal framework of Oman, thus implying that such law has not been implemented. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 2023-05-18 | C138 | Royal Decree No. 31/2023 issuing the School Education Law - Article 24 and Article 27 | [{"link_name":"Royal Decree No. 31/2023 issuing the School Education Law","source_link":"https://qanoon.om/p/2023/rd2023031/"}] | No | 4 | C138 requires that the minimum age for admission to work shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, shall not be less than 15 years. | Articles 24 and 27 of the Decree stipulates that education is compulsory from the age of 6 until the student completes basic education or reaches the age of 17 which above the minimum age for admission to work set to 15 years. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | N/A | C138 | N/A | [{"link_name":"N/A","source_link":"N/A"}] | N/A | 3 | If the country chooses to allow light work, States must determine what activities are considered light work, and the hours and the circumstances under which they may be carried out. | No information were found about the determination of types and conditions of light work activities in the legal framework of Oman, thus implying that such law has not been implemented. |
| Minimum age for light work | 1958 | C138 | Law on Agricultural Relations No. 134 of 1958, as amended by Law. No. 34 of 2000 | [{"link_name":"CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:2282121,102923"}] | 13 | 2 | C138 defines light work as work that does not interfere with children’s schooling, or their ability to benefit from it, and that is not hazardous. C138 allows countries to permit light work for children younger than the general minimum age. For countries that set the minimum age at 15, this means children aged 13-14, and for those that set it at 14, children aged 12-13 may engage in light work. | In a Direct Request published in 2008, the CEACR notes that "with regard to agricultural work, section 38(2) of the Law on Agricultural Relations No. 134 of 1958, as amended by Law. No. 34 of 2000, allows children aged between 13 and 15 years to perform light tasks to be defined by the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour. The Committee had requested the Government to indicate whether the competent authority has determined the light work activities which may be undertaken by children between 13 and 15 years of age. The Committee notes with interest the Government’s information that section 1 of Order No. 972 of 7 May 2006, promulgated by the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour after having solicited the views of the Peasant Federation, specifies light tasks as the following: (1) spreading, patching and planting seeds and arboreta; (2) fruit gathering and picking; (3) manual powdering; (4) preparing, cleaning and packaging in small packets; (5) piercing tobacco; (6) providing fodder and water to animals; and (7) working in plant nurseries and gardens.". |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 2003-04-26 | C138 | Royal Decree 35/2003 issuing the Labour Law - Article 75. | [{"link_name":"Royal Decree 35/2003 issuing the Labour Law","source_link":"https://menarights.org/sites/default/files/2016-11/OMN_LabourLaw2003_EN.pdf"}] | 15 | 1 | C138 establishes 15 as the minimum age for work in general. Developing countries have the option of setting a minimum age of 14 as a transitional measure as they strengthen their education systems and economies. | Article 75. of the Decree sets the minimum age for admission to work to 15 years. |
International Legal Framework
International Legal Framework
| Ratification status | Convention | Convention description | Date of ratification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in-force | C182 | Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) | 11-JUN-2001 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 21-JUL-2005 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Main Objectives of the National Strategy for Education 2040 include : Providing an effective system of management and governance in the education sector ; Establishing an education sector which facilitates progress and promotion across educational levels (pre-school, school education and higher education) and enables graduates to join the labour market ; Improving the quality of education ; Building research capacities in the education sector ; Creating an effective and sustainable funding system for the education sector. | [{"link_name":"National Strategy for Education 2040","source_link":"https://www.educouncil.gov.om/downloads/Ts775SPNmXDQ.pdf"}] | N/A | National Strategy for Education 2040 | Education Council |
| The Plan seeks to "mobilize and lead national efforts to combat human trafficking, improve prevention mechanisms, increase public awareness, intensify measures to combat human trafficking, protect victims, prosecute traffickers, and enhance cooperation at the local level between the relevant institutions and bodies and at the regional and international levels". To meet such objective, the main goals of the National Action Plan are as follows : 1.Find appropriate solutions and strategies to address, prevent and combat the phenomenon of human trafficking in its various forms and manifestations in the Sultanate of Oman, and protect the victims based on the anti-human trafficking law, which was promulgated by Royal Decree 126/2008 on 22 November 2008 ; 2.Strengthen regional and international cooperation in the field of combating human trafficking; adopt the best experiences and practices in this regard in line with national interests, values and the relevant international agreements ratified by the Sultanate ; 3.Support efforts to raise specialized competence of agencies working on monitoring, investigating, addressing the phenomenon and providing care for victims through sustained regular training programmes for judges, members of the public prosecution, and other law enforcement officers, labour inspectors, receivers of reports on human trafficking, hotline operators, and supervisors of care and shelter houses. | [{"link_name":"National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking","source_link":"https://nccht.om/wp-content/uploads/National-Action-Plan-to-Combat-Human-Trafficking-English.pdf"}] | 2021-2023 | National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking | National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking |