Daijiworld Media Network – Muscat

Muscat, Oct 29: Oman’s Ministry of Labour has dismissed widespread social media rumours claiming that employees, especially in government service, would be compulsorily retired after 30 years of service. The Ministry clarified on October 27 that the country’s labour policy remains unchanged and all retirement decisions continue to follow existing laws and regulations.

In its official statement, the Ministry termed the viral claims “false and misleading,” urging the public to rely only on verified sources such as the Ministry’s website and official social media handles. “All labour-related decisions are announced through formal channels. We advise everyone to disregard and avoid spreading baseless information,” the Ministry stated.

The rumour, which began circulating through forwarded messages and social media posts, created panic among long-serving employees in both government and private sectors, with many believing a new law would force early retirement. However, authorities have now confirmed that no such directive or policy exists.

Under the current framework, public sector employees in Oman are eligible for retirement after 30 years of service or upon reaching the official retirement age of 60–65 years, depending on their job category. In the private sector, retirement terms are governed by contracts and the Social Protection Fund regulations, typically allowing retirement around age 60.

Reiterating its commitment to transparency, the Ministry urged citizens and residents to avoid spreading unverified information and to check all labour-related updates only through official government sources.