Oman’s Social Protection Fund has introduced new regulations aimed at ensuring wage continuity for insured employees during periods of certified illness or approved special leave. The program, which took effect on Sunday, is designed to enhance financial security for workers and their families while promoting employment stability in both public and private sectors.
According to Malik al Harthy, Director-General of Benefits at the Social Protection Fund, the initiative offers comprehensive insurance coverage that guarantees the continuation of income and social protection during temporary work interruptions. Under the updated framework, employers are required to pay employees their full salary for the first seven days of certified sick leave. Starting from the eighth day, the Fund will reimburse employers for eligible wages and social insurance contributions on a graduated basis, up to a maximum of 182 days per calendar year.
The compensation rate is set at 75 percent of an employee’s comprehensive wage from day eight to day 21 of sick leave. This rate is then reduced to 50 percent for days 22 through 35 and further decreases to 35 percent for days 36 to 182, which marks the annual cap on coverage.
Beyond sick leave, the program also covers full wage replacement for certain types of special leave specified under Omani labor laws. Workers receive three days of paid leave upon marriage, three days following the death of a parent, grandparent, sibling, or two days after the death of an uncle or aunt. In cases of the death of a spouse or child, employees are entitled to ten days of paid leave.
The scheme also addresses bereavement leave for widows, granting Muslim women 130 days of paid leave following their husband’s death, while non-Muslim women are entitled to 14 days, in accordance with applicable legal provisions.
A further feature includes paid leave for employees accompanying close family members for medical treatment. This provision allows up to 30 days per year of leave to care for a spouse, parent, child, or sibling. Employees will receive full pay for the first 15 days and half pay for the remaining 15 days of this leave period.
The program’s coverage applies to all Omani employees across civil, military, and security sectors, including those on temporary or training contracts, as well as retired individuals who have returned to work. Non-Omani employees working for government entities and private sector companies covered by labor laws are also eligible.
To fund the scheme, employers contribute one percent of each employee’s comprehensive wage monthly, with no wage cap. The Social Protection Fund will provide monthly contribution notices detailing registered wages and amounts due. Starting August 1, 2026, employers can submit compensation claims and finalize settlements electronically via the Fund’s online portal. The first settlements for claims related to July will be processed in August, allowing employers to recover eligible payments made under the new system.