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Oman construction sector — are wages actually being paid on time in 2025? Worried about a new job offer.

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I have 15 years of project management experience in construction. Got a very attractive offer from a Muscat-based contractor for a water infrastructure project in Salalah — SAR... wait, OMR 2,800/month with housing and transport.

But I've heard some horror stories about Oman contractors delaying wages. My current employer in Salalah (different company) is fine but the salary is lower. Is the Omani construction sector stable for salaries in 2025? How do I verify if a company is legitimate before joining? Any tips to protect myself?

Nuwan Dahanayake 9 days ago 508 views 3 answers

3 Answers

Accepted Answer

OMR 2,800 + housing + transport for PM in Oman infrastructure is a very competitive package — definitely above market average. That alone should make you pause and do due diligence. Here's my checklist before joining any GCC contractor:

**Check company registration** — Oman Ministry of Commerce website (moci.gov.om) has a company search. Verify it's registered and active.
**Wage Protection System (WPS)** — Oman has a WPS like UAE. Ask HR if they're WPS-registered. If yes, wages must be deposited via bank (trackable). If they're vague, red flag.
**Ask for bank details** — a legitimate company will pay by bank transfer. Cash payment is a red flag.
**LinkedIn verification** — search the company, see if employees post actively. Check if employees' profiles show consistent employment duration.
**Payment history** — ask the recruiter if you can speak to a current Sri Lankan employee for reference. Good companies won't hesitate.

Saman Wickramasinghe 8 days ago

Safety Officer here — I vet contractors too. One more thing: for infrastructure/water projects in Oman, the main contractors are usually funded by Oman government tenders which makes payment more stable than private sector. Ask who the project client is (ministry? municipality?). Government-funded = more reliable payment chain.

Ruwan Gunasekara 7 days ago

HR Manager view: before signing, insist on seeing a contract in English that specifies the salary amount, pay date (e.g. 'payable by last working day of each month'), and the termination clauses. Any company unwilling to put these in writing is telling you something. Also check that the company covers your return ticket home if you resign within 2 years — this is common in Oman government project contracts.

Ayasha Bandara 6 days ago