Oman's Ministry bans visa for expats in ten sectors

The Minister of Manpower Oman, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Bakri, issued a ministerial decision banning temporarily the licences for recruitment of expatriate manpower in ten professions.

The decision has temporarily banned the recruitment of expatriate manpower by the private sector in ten sectors for six months. However, the licences issued prior to the date the decision takes effect shall remain valid until the expiry of their respective terms.

The decision does not apply to establishments owned by employers wholly devoted to the management of their establishments which are registered with the Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development and insured with the Public Authority for Social Insurance (PASI).

The decision shall take effect on the day of its publication in the Official Gazette.

Below are the roles of the job affected by the suspension.

Information and Technology

1.Information Security Specialist

2.Geographic Information System Specialist

3.Electronic Computer Networks

4.Programmed Machines Maintenance - Electronic

5.Electronic Calculator Maintenance

6.Graphic Designer

7.Electronic Surveillance - Equipment Assembly

8.Electronics Technician - Telecom

9.Electronics Technician - Control Instrument

10.Electronic Technician - Medical Equipment

11.Electronics Technician Broadcast

12.Electronic Technician - Programmed Machines

13.Electronic Technician - Computer Networks

14.Computer Programmer

15.Computer Engineer

16.Computer operator

Accounting and Finance

1.Bank Notes and Moneychanger

2.Bank notes technician

3.Account Auditing technician

4.General accounting technician

5.Cost account technician

6.Costs accountant

7.Insurance collector

Marketing and Sales

1.Sales specialist

2.Storekeeper

3.Commercial agent

4.Commercial manager

5.Procurement logistics specialist

Administration and Human Resources

1.Business Administration Specialist

2.Public Relation Specialist

3.Human Resources Specialist

4.Administrative Director

Insurance

1.Insurance Agent General

2.Real Estate Insurance Agent

3.Cargo Insurance Agent

4.Life Insurance Agent

5.Vehicle Insurance Agent

6.Factory Insurance Agent

Information/Media Professions

1. Media Specialist

2. Page Maker

3. Paper Pulp Machine Operator

4. Bookbinding Machine Operator

5. Decorative Books Operator of

6. Calendar Operator

7. Paper Dyeing Machine Operators

8. Bill Printing Machine Operator

9. Cylinder Press Operator

10. Rotating Press Operator

11. Offset Printing Machine Operator

12. Color Press Operator

13. Planographic Press Operator

14. Paper Folder Machine Operator

15. Paper Coating Machine Operator

16. Advertising Agent

Medical Professions

1. Male Nurse

2.Pharmacist Assistant

3. Medical Coordinator

Airport Professions

1. Aviation Guiding Officer

2. Ground Steward

3. Ticket controller

4. Airplane takeoff Supervisor

5. Air traffic controller

6. Aircraft Landing supervisor

7. Passenger Transport supervisor

8. Land Guide

Engineering Professions

1. Architect

2. General Survey Engineer

3. Civil Engineer

4. Electronic Engineer

5. Electronics Engineer

6. Mechanical Engineer

7. Projects Engineers

Technical Professions

1. Building Technician/Building Controller

2. Electronic Technician

3. Road Technician/Road Controller

4. Mechanical Technician

5. Soil Mechanics Laboratory Technician

6. Steam Turbine Technician

7. Construction materials lab technician

8. Gas Network Extension Technician

9. Construction Technician

10. Transformer Technician

11. Station Technician

12. Electrical Technician

13. Heat Operations Technician

14. Maintenance Technician

15. Chemical Technician

Indian passports may no longer be used as address proof

The Indian passport is set to go through a lot of changes, if the proposal of the ministry of external affairs is implemented.

They will no longer be valid proof of address; a Hindustan Times report says. Reason: The current last page with the passport holder's address and the names of the guardian will be dropped. 

What's more, to make immigration and screening more efficient, orange coloured passports may be issued for individuals in the emigration check required (ECR) category.

Surendera Kumar, under-secretary of policy and legal matters at the consular, passport and visa division of the ministry, was quoted in the report as saying that, "The decision to keep the last page of the passport blank has been taken" to protect the details contained.

Though not printed, the details will be saved on official systems and remain accessible for immigration officials and agencies concerned by scanning a barcode present, a report in CN Traveler said.

Apart from this, the ministry is also mulling changing colour of some passports of a specific category. At present, Indian passports are issued in three colours: white for government officers or to those people who visit other countries for the official work of the government; red for diplomats; and blue for all others across two categories - those who require emigration check (ECR) and those who do not (ECNR), the Hindustan Times report says.

Those in the ECR category will have orange passports, Kumar said. This will increase the speed of the process of emigration as the colour of the passport will make it clear whether the emigration check is required or not. In this case too, existing ECR passports will be valid, according to the report.

Free zones in UAE Exempted from VAT

The Federal Tax Authority on Wednesday posted an unofficial translation of Cabinet Decision No. (59) of 2017 on Designated Zones for the purposes of the Federal Decree-Law No. (8) of 2017 on Value Added Tax [VAT].

The post states that the UAE’s Cabinet, under its authority, has added the following free zones to the FTA’s list of Designated Zones. These Designated Zones are outside the UAE for VAT purposes and therefore are not subject to VAT in the UAE for products and services.

Here's the complete list of Designated Zones as per the Annex to the Cabinet Decision No (59) of 2017 No. Designated Zones.

Abu Dhabi

1. Free Trade Zone of Khalifa Port

2. Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone

3. Khalifa Industrial Zone

Dubai

4. Jebel Ali Free Zone (North-South)

5. Dubai Cars and Automotive Zone (DUCAMZ)

6. Dubai Textile City

7. Free Zone Area in Al Quoz

8. Free Zone Area in Al Qusais

9. Dubai Aviation City

10. Dubai Airport Free Zone

Sharjah

11. Hamriyah Free Zone

12. Sharjah Airport International Free Zone

Ajman

13. Ajman Free Zone

No. Designated Zones (Umm Al Quwain)

14. Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone in Ahmed Bin Rashid Port

15. Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone on Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road

Ras Al Khaimah

16. RAK Free Trade Zone

17. RAK Maritime City Free Zone

18. RAK Airport Free Zone

Fujairah

19. Fujairah Free Zone

20. FOIZ (Fujairah Oil Industry Zone)