Oman has suspended the issuance of working visas to foreigners for skilled and non-skilled employment for six months, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration said on Tuesday.
In an advisory, the POEA said Oman’s Ministry of Manpower has issued Ministerial Decision 38/2018 last January 24 suspending the authorization to hire foreign workers as part of its nationalization policy in the private sector to provide 25,000 jobs to Omani citizens.
The POEA said the suspension will last until July 24, 2018.
“The Ministry of Manpower will not process work visas as the government assesses the impact of the policy on its citizens and possible benefits to the economy within suspension period,” the POEA said.
Oman is home to about 50,000 Filipino workers and is the only Middle Eastern nation included in the POEA 's list of nations safe for OFWs.
The POEA said that visas issued before Jan. 24, 2018, however, will remain valid until its expiration.
However, establishments registered with the Oman Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development and those insured with the Public Authority for Social Insurance are exempted from the temporary ban.
Jobs affected by the visa suspension are in the Information and Technology sector, the jobs affected by visa suspension are Information Security Specialist, Geographic Information System Specialist, Electronic Computer Networks, Programmed Machines Maintenance– Electronic, Electronic Calculator Maintenance, Graphic Designer, Electronic Surveillance-Equipment Assembly, Electronics Technician–Telecom, Electronics Technician-Control Instrument, Electronic Technician-Medical Equipment, Electronics Technician Broadcast, Electronic Technician-Programmed Machines, Electronic Technician-Computer Networks, Computer Programmer, Computer Engineer, and Computer Operator.
For the Accounting and Finance sector, the following are affected by visa suspension: Bank Notes and Money Changer, Bank Notes Technician, Account Auditing Technician, General Accounting Technician, Cost Account Technician, Costs Accountant, and Insurance Collector.
For Marketing and Sales sector: Sales Specialist, Storekeeper, Commercial Agent, Commercial Manager, and Procurement Logistics Specialist.
For Administration and Human Resources sector: Business Administration Specialist, Public Relation Specialist, Human Resources Specialist, Administrative Director
For Insurance industry: Insurance Agent General, Real Estate Insurance Agent, Cargo Insurance Agent, Life Insurance Agent, Vehicle Insurance Agent, Factory Insurance Agent
For Information and Media Professions: Media Specialist, Page Maker, Paper Pulp Machine Operator, Bookbinding Machine Operator, Decorative Books Operator, Calendar Operator, Paper Dyeing Machine Operators, Bill Printing Machine Operator, Cylinder Press Operator, Rotating Press Operator, Offset Printing Machine Operator, Color Press Operator, Paleographic Press Operator, Paper Folder Machine Operator, Paper Coating Machine Operator, and Advertising Agent
For Medical Professions: Male Nurse, Pharmacist Assistant, and Medical Coordinator.
For the Airport profession: Aviation Guiding Officer, Ground Steward, Ticket Controller, Airplane Takeoff Supervisor, Air Traffic Controller, Aircraft Landing Supervisor, Passenger Transport Supervisor, and Land Guide
For Engineering Profession: Architect, General Survey Engineer, Civil Engineer, Electronic Engineer, Electronics Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Projects Engineers, Technical Professions, Building Technician/Building Controller, Electronic Technician, Road Technician/Road Controller, Mechanical Technician, Soil Mechanics Laboratory Technician, Steam Turbine Technician, Construction materials lab technician, Gas Network Extension Technician, Construction Technician, Transformer Technician, Station Technician, Electrical Technician, Heat Operations Technician, Maintenance Technician, and Chemical Technician.
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has warned the public from a fake email supposedly from the Philippine embassy in London, luring Filipino jobseekers to work in United Kingdom in exchange for a certain amount.
In a statement, the DoLE said the bogus email has already victimized a number of Filipino jobseekers wanting to work in London.
The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in London was ordered to conduct an immediate probe to look into the fake email and to stop unscrupulous persons behind the illegal recruitment scheme.
The fake online email account, philippineembassyunitedkingdom@gmail.com posing as the Philippine Embassy in the United Kingdom (UK), recruits overseas workers for non-existent jobs, the labor department said.
The fraudulent scheme was exposed when a report reached the Philippine Trade & Investment Centre (PTIC) in London about the said fake email address which recruits workers and provides requirements for UK B1 Working Visa.
The PTIC immediately responded to the email and clarified that the unscrupulous address is not the official email Philippine Embassy in London nor affiliated with any Philippine government agency.
London Labor Attaché Reydeluz Conferido sought the assistance of other government agencies to track down the source of the email address, and immediately file cases against those behind it to protect Filipino workers.
“We hope that we could mobilize other government resources to track its source and bring to justice those who are so brazen in this illegal activity,” Conferido stated.
The POEA reminded Filipinos jobseekers who plan to work overseas to visit www.poea.gov.ph, or call its hotline 722-11-44 / 722-11-55 or email them at info@poea.gov.ph to verify the license and permits of recruitment agencies and the legitimacy of the job orders.