Job Discussion Forums

[veiledsentiments]

I certainly would as a business owner, but then I'm from a country where something like this would never happen. Consequently I find it intrusive in a dictatorial way.

Is there a nationwide pay scale for teachers based on education and experience? What if private college X is already paying 20% more than private college Y?

I know that the labor law mandates the provision of medical and an annual bonus, but I wasn't aware that they decide salaries and raises...

VS

[omanized]

Private sector salary raise by royal decree ? Not likely...... another juicy rumor with absolutely no substance to it.


omzd

[salmon]

Royal decrees can be very good as in one that came out last week which said that rents can only be raised every two years and then only by 10 - 15%.
As for the salary issue ( and I agree it could be only a rumour ), surely businesses who come to this country in the first place must realise that they must abide by the rules and laws of that country. When in Rome, and all that.
It could be looked at from the other side, and businesses paying hardly anything to workers as there were no standards to adhere to, so surely Royal decrees (and generally they are very fair in this country) can't be a bad thing?

[veiledsentiments]

If there is one thing I learned in Oman (and there were many things actually), it was that a benevolent dictatorship can be a pretty good system.

And the private college that I taught at was Omani owned and managed - with only assistance from a foreign university as far as setting up curriculum. I think the majority of private colleges are the same. So, it is not a matter of foreign companies complying with Omani employment laws - of course, they do and did. It is more a matter of the fact that the government is unlikely to know what salaries in every possible profession should be. Especially in a competitive market like international education.

It is good that they protect the people at the bottom of the scales to avoid abuses. But I don't see any real reason for them to interfere in the salaries of people who are actually close to the top of the expat scale in Oman.

Rent control is workable in a small country like this with a limited inventory and crucial right now with the shortage of properties after the cyclone. I expect that it came to late too avoid major gouging by many of the landlords of the new contracts for this year though. But I would not be surprised to see them do something retroactive on that.

But... rumors let us all live on hope, eh?

VS

[salmon]

I agree....

[omanized]

Although the cyclone hit Muscat hard and damaged many businesses, it has had no effect on the number of rental units available. The hyper-inflated rents are simply a "market" adjustment by greedy landlords - it started with the bigger rental companies and has spiralled out of control - "why shouldn't I raise the rent? Next door they are charging x rials, go ahead and try to find something cheaper etc....." This is the kind of rhetoric you hear.

omzd

[salmon]

If you are so 'Omanised', you should have seen the decree in last week's newspapers announcing that rents can only be raised every two years depending on the landlord, and then only by 10 - 15%.
I agree the exploitation of greedy landlords has been awful lately, especially after the Gonu disaster but let's hope this will stop now.

[helenl]

rent caps have been in place in several of the emirates but the gouging continues. Landlords tell tenants they need the premises for themselves (or family members) or that they are going to be carrying out extensive renovations. Neither is true, but the current tenants are out and the landlord can then up the rent as much as he pleases to new tenants.

Whether that applies in Oman, I don't know. But that's how the rental cap legislation is "gotten around" by unscrupulous landlords in UAE. PEople complain but so far, I haven't heard of anyone being successful in fighting such eviction notices.

[omanized]

What's with the attitude?? Yes I read the paper and it says for the next two years, not every two years. My comment was regarding the rental increases and nothing else.

and believe me, landlords will try many things to get out of this new decree - early notice, citing that the decree came after the notice etc....I hope you are not affected but get ready if your lease agreement was up for renewal recently ( ie the 3 month legal notice period )

Best thing to do is to go to the Municipality and ask the appropriate questions about the situation.

omanized

[veiledsentiments]

Another question is whether this decree is retroactive to pre-cyclone or does it allow the big jumps that occurred just afterwards to stay...

VS

[salmon]

Sorry omanized. Didn't mean to offend. As for the decree (VS)- I suppose they'll 'jump' that fence when they come to it!