Speaking in Geneva on 27 January 2026 during Oman’s Universal Periodic Review, the UK welcomed recent measures - a new anti‑trafficking law and accession to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - and set three recommendations: fully implement the trafficking law, strengthen protections for migrant workers, and reform nationality legislation to guarantee gender equality. The UK also encouraged continued action to ensure equality for women and girls in law and in practice. (gov.uk)
UPR Working Group 51 runs from 19 to 30 January 2026 at the Palais des Nations, with Oman among thirteen states reviewed this session. (upr-info.org)
Royal Decree 78/2025, issued on 10 September and published on 14 September 2025, established a revised Law on Combating Human Trafficking, replacing the 2008 framework. The law introduces victim shelters and support, exempts victims from residency and work fines, and increases penalties to up to 15 years’ imprisonment and fines of up to OMR 100,000 in aggravated cases. (omannews.gov.om)
In October 2025, Oman approved accession to the ICCPR via Royal Decree 89/2025, instructing authorities to deposit the instrument of accession with reservations and interpretative declarations. The UK statement expressly noted and welcomed this step. (fm.gov.om)
The UK’s call for equality for women and girls was framed “in line with CEDAW”. Oman acceded to CEDAW on 7 February 2006 and submitted its fourth periodic report in 2022, situating the recommendation within existing treaty commitments. (gcc.unfpa.org)
Recent labour measures inform the recommendation on migrant workers. The 2023 Labour Law (Royal Decree 53/2023) revised end‑of‑service benefits, set a 60‑day repatriation timeframe and clarified access to the courts for wage disputes. Ministerial Decision 729/2024 then tightened wage oversight through the Wage Protection System, requiring at least 75% of staff to be paid through WPS from September 2025 wages and 90% from November 2025 wages. (migrationpolicy.unescwa.org)
Regulation of domestic work - a sector with a high share of migrants - was updated in October 2025 via Ministerial Decision 475/2025, which established minimum terms, defined grounds for termination and set administrative fines for breaches, complementing the Labour Law. (muscatdaily.com)
Under UPR procedures, the Working Group adopts its report two days after the dialogue; several months later, the Human Rights Council considers the final outcome, including the state’s addendum listing which recommendations are supported or noted. That timetable sets the window for Oman’s formal response to the UK’s proposals. (upr-info.org)
For employers, recruiters and compliance leads in Oman, the direction of travel is clear: wage compliance, ethical recruitment and anti‑trafficking safeguards will face renewed scrutiny. Meeting WPS obligations and applying the 2025 trafficking law - including the prohibition on confiscating victims’ passports - will be central to demonstrating implementation. (muscatdaily.com)