The General Federation of Oman Workers states that companies in Oman are required to give employees at least six months to try to improve their performance before firing them because of poor performance under the country’s Labor Law.
This announcement was prompted by an incident involving workers who were threatened with termination from their positions unless they improved their performance to meet certain standards within a given period of time. As per the federation, the notice from the company failed to point out the areas in which the workers needed to improve their performance.
The firm only gave the employees three months to improve their performance before terminating them. The federation said such a timeframe does not meet the requirements applicable to performance-related dismissal.
Under the rules highlighted by the federation, an employer must first identify the specific areas in which a worker is considered to be underperforming. The employee must also be informed about the improvements required and given an appropriate opportunity to meet the expected level.
That improvement period must be at least six months, according to the General Federation of Oman Workers. Simply describing an employee as inefficient, without providing details of the deficiencies and a reasonable period for improvement, is not enough to justify termination on this basis.
The federation further said employers planning to terminate a worker on these grounds must notify the Ministry of Labour three months before the employment contract is due to end. The requirement adds another procedural step to performance-based termination cases.
Workers who receive such warnings have been advised to keep copies of the notices issued by their employers and check that the alleged performance problems are clearly stated. They should also preserve relevant records, including performance assessments, workplace observations and correspondence.
The federation said these documents could be important if a dispute later arises over the termination. The guidance highlights the importance of following a transparent process when addressing performance concerns and provides workers with a clearer understanding of the protections available to them under Oman’s labour framework.
