Muscat : The Ministry of Labour has issued a Ministerial Decision No. 619/2024 regarding the issuance of the guiding model for the regulations of the private sector’s labour system.
Article One of the decision said that every employer who employs 25 or more workers must prepare a list of penalties and the conditions for imposing them, in accordance with the form and rules attached to this decision :
1) Late for Work: Penalties for lateness vary depending on the duration of the delay and whether it disrupts work.
–Up to 15 minutes without disruption of work: Written warning and 5% deduction for first offense, 10% for second, 15% for third, 20% for fourth.
Being late for work appointments for up to 15 minutes without permission or an acceptable excuse, and the delay does not result in a disruption of work for one time, the employee shall be punished with a written warning and a deduction of 5 percent of the worker’s daily wage if the violation is repeated for the second time. If the violation is committed for the third time, 10 percent of the daily wage will be deducted, and 20 percent for the fourth time.
–Up to 15 minutes with disruption of work: Written warning and 15% deduction for first offense, 25% for second, 50% for third, 100% for fourth.
Being late for work appointments for up to 15 minutes without permission or an acceptable excuse, and the delay results in a disruption of work for one time, the employee shall be punished with a written warning and a deduction of 15 percent of the worker’s daily wage if the violation is repeated for the second time. If the violation is committed for the third time, 25 percent of the daily wage will be deducted, and 50 percent for the fourth time.
-15-30 minutes without disruption of work: 10% deduction for first offense, 15% for second, 25% for third, 50% for fourth.
If the employee is late for work for more than 15 minutes to 30 minutes without permission or an acceptable excuse and the delay does not result in a work stoppage, 10 percent of his daily wage will be deducted, and 15 percent will be deducted if the violation is repeated for the second time. If the violation is committed for the third time, 25 percent of the employee’s daily wage will be deducted, and 50 percent will be deducted for the fourth time.
–15-30 minutes with disruption of work: 15% deduction for first offense, 25% for second, 50% for third, 100% for fourth.
If the employee is late for work for more than 15 minutes to 30 minutes without permission or an acceptable excuse and the delay results in a work stoppage for one time, 15 percent of his daily wage will be deducted, and 25 percent of the worker’s daily wage will be deducted if the violation is repeated for the second time. In case of committing the violation for the third time, 50 percent of the daily wage will be deducted and a full day’s wage will be deducted in case of committing the violation for the fourth time
-15-30 minutes with disruption of work: 15% deduction for first offense, 25% for second, 50% for third, 100% for fourth.
If the worker is late for work for more than 30 minutes to 60 minutes without permission or an acceptable excuse and the delay does not result in a disruption of work, 25 percent of his daily wage will be deducted and 50 percent of the worker’s daily wage will be deducted in case of repeating the violation for the second time. In case of committing the violation for the third time, 75 percent of the daily wage will be deducted and a full day’s wage will be deducted in case of committing the violation for the fourth time.
–30-60 minutes with disruption of work: 50% deduction for first offense, 75% for second, 100% for third, 150% for fourth.
If the worker is late for work for more than 30 minutes to 60 minutes without permission or an acceptable excuse and the delay results in a work stoppage for the first time, 50 percent of his salary will be deducted and 75 percent if the violation is repeated for the second time. If the violation is committed for the third time, one day’s wage will be deducted and one and a half days’ wages if the worker commits the violation for the fourth time.
–Over 60 minutes: 75% deduction for first offense, 100% for second, 150% for third, 200% for fourth.
If the worker is late for work for more than 60 minutes without permission or an acceptable excuse, whether or not the delay results in a work stoppage for the first time, 75 percent of his salary will be deducted and one day’s wage will be deducted if the violation is repeated for the second time. If the violation is committed for the third time, one and a half days’ wages will be deducted and two days’ wages will be deducted if the worker commits the violation for the fourth time.
2) Absence: Penalties for unauthorized absences also vary based on the duration of the absence.
One-time absence: 25% deduction for first offense, 50% for second, 100% for third, 200% for fourth.
If the employee is absent from work without permission or an acceptable excuse for only one time, 25 percent of his daily wage will be deducted and 50 percent will be deducted if the violation is repeated. In case of committing the violation for the third time, one day’s wage will be deducted and two days’ wages if the worker commits the violation for the fourth time.
3) Other Violations: Penalties for other violations, such as leaving work early, using personal phones during work hours, and violating workplace instructions, are also specified.
-Leaving work early or staying late without permission: Written warning for first offense, 25% deduction for second, 50% for third, 100% for fourth.
If the employee leaves work or leaves it before the specified time without permission or an acceptable excuse or remains in the facility and returns to it after the end of working hours without justification, he will be punished with a written warning for the first time and a deduction of 25 percent of his daily wage if the violation is repeated for the second time. In case of committing the violation for the third time, 50 percent of the daily wage will be deducted and one day’s wage if the worker commits the violation for the fourth time.
–Violating workplace rules (e.g., eating in designated areas, using phone for personal purposes): 25% deduction for first offense, 50% for second, 100% for third, 200% for fourth.
In the event of leaving a place other than the one designated for exit if the facility’s instructions require it, receiving visitors in the workplace who are not employees of the facility and without permission from the relevant department, eating in a place or at a time other than that designated for that, sleeping during working hours, using the facility’s phone for personal purposes without permission, and the worker being in a place other than his/her place during working hours without justification, 25 percent of the employee’s daily wage will be deducted, and 50 percent if the violation is repeated for the second time. One full day’s wage will be deducted if the employee commits the violation for the third time, and two days’ wages will be deducted if the violation is repeated for the fourth time.
–Not notifying employer of data change: 50% deduction for first offense, 100% for second, 200% for third, 300% for fourth.
In the event that the employer is not notified of the employee’s change of his data within 7 days without an acceptable excuse, tampering with the proof of attendance and departure, and violating or not implementing the work-related instructions, the employee will be punished by deducting 50 percent of his daily wage and deducting a full day’s wage if the violation is repeated for the second time. Two days’ wages will be deducted if the violation is committed for the third time, and three days’ wages will be deducted from the employee’s salary if the violation is repeated for the fourth time.
–Incitement of violations, negligence, or causing harm: 100% deduction for first offense, 200% for second, 300% for third, 500% for fourth.
If the employee incites a violation of written orders and instructions related to work and neglects or is negligent in performing the work, resulting in harm to the health or safety of workers or harm to materials and tools, one day’s wage will be deducted and two days’ wages will be deducted if the violation is repeated for the second time. If the employee commits the violation for the third time, three days’ wages will be deducted and five days’ wages will be deducted if the violation is repeated for the fourth time.
–Falling asleep during work requiring continuous vigilance: 100% deduction for first offense, 300% for second, 500% for third, dismissal for fourth.
If the employee falls asleep during work in cases that require continuous vigilance, the daily wage will be deducted for a full day and three days’ wages will be deducted if the violation is repeated. Five’s days wages will be deducted if the employee commits the violation for the third time and the employee will be dismissed from work with a bonus if the violation is repeated for the fourth time.
–Drunkenness or drug use: Dismissal without bonus.
If the employee is found during working hours in a state of drunkenness or under the influence of a narcotic or psychotropic substance, he will be dismissed from work without a bonus.
–Smoking in prohibited areas: 200% deduction for first offense, 300% for second, 500% for third, dismissal for fourth.
If the employee smokes in prohibited areas in the workplace for the first time, two days’ wages will be deducted and three days’ wages will be deducted if the violation is repeated for the second time. Five days’ wages will be deducted if the violation is committed for the third time. The employee will be dismissed from work with a bonus if the violation is repeated for the fourth time.
