Supreme Committee announces fine exemptions

Muscat: Supreme Committee in charge of tackling the Coronavirus spread in the Sultanate has decided to allow employers to renew expired work licenses for those workers stranded outside the Sultanate. The committee also has announced a set of measures aimed at supporting the private sector, especially the small-medium enterprises (SMEs)

The committee studied the consequences of the pandemic on private sector institutions and the procedures required to support the sustainability of the business, it was decided to

1. Exemption from fines for all licenses issued by government agencies for activities that have ended or will end during the period from 1 June 2020 until December 31, 2021, subject to renewal.

2. Exemption from fines for renewing non-Omani workforce cards and associated cards that have expired or will expire during the period from June 1 2020 until December 31, 2021. This applies to those who are leaving the Sultanate permanently and those looking to renew it.

3. Exemption from fines incurred by all institutions and companies as a result of not renewing its commercial records and licenses, provided that those records are renewed and licenses during 2021.

4. Allowing employers to renew expired work licenses for workers outside the Sultanate and exemption from fines incurred during the period from June 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021.

5. Exempting small and medium enterprises from the Riyada card renewal fees during the year 2021.

The Supreme Committee also has decided the following:

• Granting a work permit (permission) instead of leaving for all categories at the prescribed fee

by category.

• Urging banks and finance companies to cooperate with affected borrowers especially small and medium-sized enterprises (holders of the “entrepreneurship” card)

• Rescheduling loans without rescheduling fees

• Exempting small and medium enterprises from registration fees in the Isnad system of the Tender Board

• Exempting small and medium-sized enterprises from land fees for usufruct postponing the payment of arrears.

• Postponing the payment of installments for small and medium enterprises for the activities set out in

Annex (1) (Entrepreneurship cardholders) benefiting from financing loans from the Al Raffd Fund (formerly).

• Exemption from rental fees for owners of small and medium enterprises for the activities described in Annex (1) (entrepreneurship cardholders) which are located within the real estate owned by government agencies and agencies.