Dokument #2082791
USDOL – US Department of Labor (Autor)
In 2021, Oman made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government adopted a new National Plan for Combating Human Trafficking, established child protection committees at the governorate level, and investigated and charged two suspects in a child sex trafficking case. The labor inspectorate also increased inspections in response to videos shared on social media documenting labor violations. Although research is limited, there is evidence that small numbers of children in Oman engage in child labor, including in fishing and farming. Government policies do not address all forms of child labor and the Ministry of Labor is not represented on the National Committee on Implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child or the National Child Protection Committee.
Although research is limited, there is evidence that small numbers of children in Oman engage in child labor, including in fishing and farming. (1) Table 1 provides key indicators on children’s work and education in Oman. Data on some of these indicators are not available from the sources used in this report.
Children |
Age |
Percent |
---|---|---|
Working (% and population) |
5 to 14 |
Unavailable |
Attending School (%) |
5 to 14 |
Unavailable |
Combining Work and School (%) |
7 to 14 |
Unavailable |
Primary Completion Rate (%) |
99.2 |
Source for primary completion rate: Data from 2020, published by UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2022. (2)
Source for all other data: Data were unavailable from ILO's analysis, 2022. (3)
Based on a review of available information, Table 2 provides an overview of children's work by sector and activity.
Sector/Industry |
Activity |
---|---|
Agriculture |
Farming, activities unknown (1) |
Fishing, activities unknown (1) |
Oman has ratified all key international conventions concerning child labor (Table 3).
Convention |
Ratification |
---|---|
ILO C. 138, Minimum Age |
✓ |
ILO C. 182, Worst Forms of Child Labor |
✓ |
UN CRC |
✓ |
UN CRC Optional Protocol on Armed Conflict |
✓ |
UN CRC Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography |
✓ |
Palermo Protocol on Trafficking in Persons |
✓ |
The government’s laws and regulations are in line with relevant international standards (Table 4).
Standard |
Meets |
Age |
Legislation |
---|---|---|---|
Minimum Age for Work |
Yes |
15 |
Articles 1, 8, and 75 of the Labor Law (4) |
Minimum Age for Hazardous Work |
Yes |
18 |
Articles 45, 46, and 71 of the Child Law; Article 2 of Ministry of Manpower Order 217/2016 (4,5) |
Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children |
Yes |
Article 5 of Ministry of Manpower Order 217/2016 (6) |
|
Prohibition of Forced Labor |
Yes |
Articles 1, 2, 8, and 9 of the Law to Combat Human Trafficking; Article 3 bis of the Labor Law (4,7) |
|
Prohibition of Child Trafficking |
Yes |
Articles 1, 2, 8, and 9 of the Law to Combat Human Trafficking (7) |
|
Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children |
Yes |
Articles 1, 2, 8, and 9 of the Law to Combat Human Trafficking; Articles 254, 255, and 267 of the Penal Code (7,8) |
|
Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities |
Yes |
Articles 58 and 74 of the Child Law; Article 43 of the Law on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (5,9) |
|
Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment |
Yes |
16 |
Article 55 of the Child Law (5) |
Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military |
Yes* |
Article 55 of the Child Law (5) |
|
Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups |
Yes |
Articles 1(f), 55, and 72 of the Child Law (5) |
|
Compulsory Education Age |
Yes |
15‡ |
Article 36 of the Child Law (5,10) |
Free Public Education |
Yes |
Article 13 of the Basic Law; Article 36 of the Child Law (5,11) |
* Country has no conscription (12)
‡ Age calculated based on available information (12)
The government has established relevant institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labor (Table 5).
Organization/Agency |
Role |
---|---|
Ministry of Labor (MOL) |
Monitors and enforces child labor laws, conducts labor inspections, and shares information with the Royal Oman Police on labor and criminal law violations when penalties are pursued. (13) |
Ministry of Social Development (MOSD) |
Enforces the Child Law, including by receiving complaints and referring cases to the Royal Oman Police and the Office of the Public Prosecutor. (13) |
Royal Oman Police |
Monitor and enforce the Child Law, including its provisions related to child labor, and refer cases to the Office of the Public Prosecutor. (14) |
Office of the Public Prosecutor |
Prosecutes human trafficking and sexual exploitation cases in court with assistance from the Royal Oman Police. (14,15) |
Child Protection Committee |
Protects children from exploitation, receives complaints and reports of child labor, and investigates reported cases to determine whether children are engaged in prohibited activities or whether working has negative effects on their health or education. (14,16) |
Labor Law Enforcement
In 2021, labor law enforcement agencies in Oman took actions to address child labor (Table 6). However, gaps exist within the operations of the Ministry of Labor (MOL) that may hinder adequate labor law enforcement.
Overview of Labor Law Enforcement |
2020 |
2021 |
---|---|---|
Labor Inspectorate Funding |
Unknown (1) |
Unknown (13) |
Number of Labor Inspectors |
303 (17) |
282 (18) |
Mechanism to Assess Civil Penalties |
Yes (4,5,19) |
Yes (4,5,19) |
Initial Training for New Labor Inspectors |
Yes (17) |
Yes (18) |
Training on New Laws Related to Child Labor |
N/A |
N/A |
Refresher Courses Provided |
Unknown (1) |
Yes (18) |
Number of Labor Inspections Conducted |
Unknown (1) |
Unknown (13) |
Number Conducted at Worksite |
Unknown (1) |
Unknown (13) |
Number of Child Labor Violations Found |
0 (1) |
Unknown (13) |
Number of Child Labor Violations for Which Penalties Were Imposed |
N/A |
Unknown (13) |
Number of Child Labor Penalties Imposed that Were Collected |
N/A |
Unknown (13) |
Routine Inspections Conducted |
Yes (1) |
Yes (13) |
Routine Inspections Targeted |
Unknown (1) |
Unknown (13) |
Unannounced Inspections Permitted |
Yes (19) |
Yes (19) |
Unannounced Inspections Conducted |
Yes (1) |
Yes (13) |
Complaint Mechanism Exists |
Yes (1) |
Yes (13) |
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Labor Authorities and Social Services |
Yes (1) |
Yes (13) |
The MOL conducts yearly inspections of all private institutions and re-inspections of workplaces found to be in violation of labor laws. Labor inspections are also conducted following a complaint. (13,20) If a violation is found, the institution is given a set period of time to address the problem. If an institution fails to address the violation, a fine may be levied. (13,20) The MOL can refer cases of child labor to the Ministry of Social Development (MOSD) if the child is under the minimum age for work. The MOL and MOSD can also coordinate with the Royal Oman Police to shelter child victims and refer suspected violators for criminal investigation. (13)
In June 2021, the MOL announced it was increasing inspections in response to videos shared on social media documenting labor violations, which the MOL determined were not current. (13) In 2021, the number of labor inspections conducted exceeded 80,000. (21)
The government did not provide information on the number of child labor violations found for inclusion in this report.
Criminal Law Enforcement
In 2021, the government's criminal law enforcement agencies appeared to function adequately in addressing child labor (Table 7).
Overview of Criminal Law Enforcement |
2020 |
2021 |
---|---|---|
Initial Training for New Criminal Investigators |
Yes (1) |
Yes (13) |
Training on New Laws Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor |
N/A |
N/A |
Refresher Courses Provided |
Unknown (1) |
Unknown (13) |
Number of Investigations |
0 (1) |
2 (21,22) |
Number of Violations Found |
N/A (1) |
2 (22,23) |
Number of Prosecutions Initiated |
N/A (1) |
2 (22,23) |
Number of Convictions |
0 (1) |
2 (21,22) |
Imposed Penalties for Violations Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor |
N/A |
Yes (22,23) |
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Criminal Authorities and Social Services |
Yes (1) |
Yes (13) |
In April 2021, the Royal Oman Police received a report of a missing foreign national girl, then a subsequent report that the girl had returned to her home with bruises. Upon investigation, the Royal Oman Police identified the girl as a victim of sex trafficking and referred her to the Dar al-Wifaq trafficking shelter. (23) As a result, the government charged two foreign nationals under the Law to Combat Human Trafficking with exploiting a child in prostitution; the suspects remained in pretrial detention at the end of the reporting period. (23) In addition, the government convicted one trafficker of forcing two foreign national boys into begging. The boys were also referred to the Dar al-Wifaq shelter. (22)
The government has established mechanisms to coordinate its efforts to address child labor (Table 8). However, gaps exist that hinder the effective coordination of efforts to address child labor, including the omission of the MOL from the National Child Protection Committee.
Coordinating Body |
Role & Description |
---|---|
National Child Protection Committee |
Consists of representatives from the MOSD, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, and the Royal Oman Police. Oversees regional committees, which are responsible for coordinating intervention with children who are survivors of abuse, neglect, or other related issues, and works with UNICEF on several projects related to child intervention. (1) However, the MOL is not represented on the Committee. (1) In 2021, child protection committees were established at the governorate level. (13) |
National Committee on Implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child |
Led by the MOSD Under Secretary and consists of representatives from government and private organizations concerned with children’s rights. Submits proposals to achieve the CRC’s principles and follows up on the UN body’s comments and recommendations. (17) However, the MOL is not represented on the Committee. (17) Active in 2021. (18) |
National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking |
Oversees the National Action Plan for Combating Human Trafficking. Includes the Royal Oman Police and 12 other state agencies. (1) Met regularly during 2021 to recommend additions and modifications to the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking. (13) |
The government has established policies related to child labor (Table 9). However, policy gaps exist that hinder efforts to address child labor, including lack of coverage of all forms of child labor.
Policy |
Description |
---|---|
National Action Plan for Combating Human Trafficking (2021–2023)† |
Aims to educate stakeholders on their rights and responsibilities, train authorities on addressing human trafficking, coordinate government services for survivors, and develop new policies and best practices. (24) Adopted in 2021. (13) |
† Policy was approved during the reporting period.
Although the Government of Oman has adopted the National Plan for Combating Human Trafficking, it does not have a comprehensive policy to address all forms of child labor, including in farming and fishing.
In 2021, the government funded and participated in programs that include the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor, which cover the main sectors in which child labor has been identified in the country (Table 10).
Program |
Description |
---|---|
Social Security Cash Transfer Program† |
Provides assistance to children in low-income families, including educational services. (16) Active in 2021. (13) |
† Program is funded by the Government of Oman.
Based on the reporting above, suggested actions are identified that would advance the elimination of child labor in Oman (Table 11).
Area |
Suggested Action |
Year(s) Suggested |
---|---|---|
Enforcement |
Collect and publish data on the number of child labor violations found. |
2013 – 2021 |
Coordination |
Ensure that the Ministry of Labor participates in the National Child Protection Committee and the National Committee on Implementing the UN CRC. |
2016 – 2021 |
Government Policies |
Develop a national policy to address all forms of child labor that occur within Oman,including in farming and fishing. |
2013 – 2021 |
Social Programs |
Collect and publish data on the extent and nature of child labor to inform policies and programs. |
2017 – 2021 |