Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB)

Government Policies and Programs to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labor

In conjunction with UNESCO, the Government of Omanparticipated in the Education For All 2000 Assessment.[3282] Through its Basic Education Initiative, the Ministry of Education is alsoworking to increase net enrollment among children and improve the educationcurriculum through support for the development and implementation of aneducational management database for policy planning; curriculum reform in math,science, and life skills for grades 1 through 10; training to support thenational education reform process; and monitoring learning achievements ofstudents in grades 7 through 10.[3283] As of the 2003-2004 academic year, 288 of the 1,020 public schools in Oman areimplementing the Basic Education program, with 40 schools added each year. Of the 288, 152 have completed Phase I (grades 1-4), 107 have completed Phase II(grades 5-10), and 29 have completed both phases.[3284]

Incidence and Nature of Child Labor

In 2001, the ILO estimated that less than one percent ofchildren ages 10 to 14 years in Oman were working.[3285] The Sultanate of Oman prohibits children under the age of 15 from working andchild labor is not known to exist in any formal industry.[3286]

Education is free but not compulsory for all children ages 6to18.[3287] A new educational system introduced in the Muscat Governorate makes educationcompulsory through Grade 10. Due to budgetary constraints, however, thissystem will gradually be adopted nationwide over the next 10 to 15 years.[3288] In order to achieve the goal of education for all, the government provides freetransportation to and from school.[3289] In 2000, the gross primary enrollment rate was 72.3 percent (70.8 percent forgirls and 73.7 percent for boys). The net enrollment rate for that year was64.7 percent (64.5 percent for girls and 64.8 percent for boys).[3290] Attendance rates are not available for Oman. While enrollment rates indicate alevel of commitment to education, they do not always reflect children’sparticipation in school.[3291]

Child Labor Laws and Enforcement

The Oman Labor Law of 2003 establishes the minimum age foremployment at 15 years. A minor is defined as anyone aged 15 to 18.[3292] The employment of minors is permitted between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.,and minors are prohibited from working overtime, during holidays, or onofficial days of rest.[3293] In addition, child laborers cannot be compelled to stay at the workplace beyondtheir specified working hours, with a maximum of 6 hours per day mandated bythe law. A company employing minors is required to post the following itemsfor display in the workplace: a copy of the regulations pertaining to non-adultworkers; a schedule of work hours, periods of rest, and weekly holidays; and alist of minors employed.[3294] The Ministry of Manpower is responsible for enforcing child labor laws.[3295] While restrictions on youth employment are generally followed, enforcementoften does not extend to some small family enterprises, particularly in theagricultural and fisheries sectors.[3296]

Bonded child labor is prohibited by law and it is notrecognized as a problem.[3297] The penal code assigns a penalty of at least five years imprisonment forindividuals found guilty of enticing a minor into an act of prostitution.[3298] Trafficking in persons is not prohibited by law; however, there were noofficial reports of trafficking incidents in the country.[3299]

The Government of Oman has not ratified ILO Convention 138,but ratified ILO Convention 182 on June 11, 2001.[3300]

[3282]UNESCO, Education for All 2000 Assessment: Country Reports- Oman, prepared by Ministry of Education Planification and Education Information, pursuant to UN General Assembly Resolution 52/84, 1999; available from http://www2.unesco.org/wef/countryreports/oman/contents.html.

[3283]UN, Youth at the United Nations: Country Profiles on the Situation of Youth- Oman, UN, [online] 2001 [cited June 24, 2003]; available from http://esa.un.org/socdev/unyin/countrya.asp?countrycode=om.

[3284]U.S. Embassy- Muscat, electronic communication to USDOL official, March 1, 2004.

[3285]World Bank, World Development Indicators 2003 [CD-ROM], Washington, D.C., 2003.

[3286]U.S. Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices- 2002: Oman, Washington, D.C., March 31, 2003, Section 6d; available from http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2002/18285.htm.

[3287]UNESCO, EFA Country Report: Oman.

[3288]Electronic communication from Labor Officer to USDOL official, March 1, 2004.

[3289] UNESCO, EFA Country Report: Oman.

[3290] World Bank, World Development Indicators 2003 [CD-ROM], Washington, D.C., 2003.

[3291]For a more detailed discussion on the relationship between education statistics and work, see the preface to this report.

[3292]Royal Decree no. 35/2003: Oman Labour Law, (May 3, 2003).

[3293] Ibid.

[3294]Ibid.

[3295]Ibid.

[3296]U.S. Department of State, Country Reports- 2002: Oman, Section 6d.

[3297]Ibid. The labor law does not apply to domestic service. See The Protection Project, "Oman," in Human Rights Report on Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children: A Country-by-Country Report on a Contemporary Form of Slavery Washington, D.C., 2002; available from http://www.protectionproject.org/human_rights/countryreport/oman.htm.

[3298]Government of Oman, Article 220 of the Penal Code: Child Prostitution, Interpol: Legislation of Interpol member states on sexual offences against children, [cited May 6, 2003]; available from http://www.interpol.int/public/Children/SexualAbuse/NationalLaws/csaOman.asp.

[3299]U.S. Department of State, Country Reports- 2002: Oman, Section 6f.

[3300]ILO, Ratifications by Country, in ILOLEX, [online database] [cited June 16, 2003]; available from http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/english/newcountryframeE.htm.