Career advice · Updated November 2026
End of Service Gratuity in Oman for Kenyan Workers: 2026 Rules
Kenyans working in Oman are owed an end of service gratuity in Oman when their job ends, as long as they are not covered by Oman’s Social Protection Law. Article 61 of the Labour Law issued by Royal Decree 53/2023 sets the gratuity at no less than one month’s basic wage for each year of service. Part-years are paid pro rata, and the calculation uses your final basic wage. A Ministry of Labour circular issued in August 2026 explains how service under the old law is counted. This guide explains both rules and what to check before you leave Oman.
Checked on 8 November 2026 against the English text of Royal Decree 53/2023 issuing the Labour Law (Articles 61 and 62) and the Oman Observer’s report of 6 August 2026 on the Ministry of Labour’s gratuity circular. Rules can change, so confirm your figures with your employer and the Ministry of Labour.
The rule under the new Labour Law
Article 61 says the employer must pay workers who do not benefit from the Social Protection Law a gratuity for their period of service:
- Rate: not less than one basic wage (one month) for each year of service.
- Part-years: paid in proportion to the time spent in service.
- Which wage: the worker’s final basic wage. Allowances are not included unless your contract says so.
- Earlier service: service that started before the law came into force counts towards the gratuity period.
Expatriate workers, including Kenyans, are generally in the group this rule covers until the savings system described below starts. If you are unsure whether you are covered, ask HR to confirm it in writing.
Contracts signed under the old law
The Ministry of Labour’s August 2026 circular, as reported by the Oman Observer, separates two groups of workers:
- Contracts concluded under the previous Labour Law: 15 days’ wages for each completed year in the first three years, then one month’s wage for each later completed year.
- Contracts concluded under the new Labour Law (Royal Decree 53/2023): not less than one basic wage for each completed year of service.
In both cases, the circular says the last basic wage is the basis of the calculation. If you have worked in Oman for many years, check the date your current contract was signed, because it decides which method applies.
Worked examples
These examples use a final basic wage of OMR 200 a month. Convert to Kenya shillings at the rate on the day you are paid.
- New-law contract, 4 years: 4 x one month = OMR 800.
- New-law contract, 2 years 6 months: 2.5 x one month = OMR 500.
- Old-law contract, 5 completed years: 3 x 15 days (1.5 months) + 2 x one month (2 months) = 3.5 months, or OMR 700.
Your contract or company rules may give you more. The law sets a minimum, not a maximum.
The planned savings system
Article 61 also says the gratuity rule applies until the savings system set out in the Social Protection Law comes into force. Under that system, employers would pay into a fund instead of paying a lump sum at the end. The Oman Observer has reported that a provident scheme is due to replace gratuity for expatriates from July 2027. Until it starts, the employer pays the gratuity directly. When the switch happens, Article 61 allows the employer to settle service before the start date either into the savings system or directly to the worker, calculated at the basic wage on the date of settlement. Keep proof of your start date so that earlier service is not lost in the transfer.
Your end-of-service certificate
Article 62 says your employer must give you, on request and free of charge, an end-of-service certificate. It shows the date you started, the date you left, the type of work, your wage and any other benefits. The employer must also return papers or certificates you deposited with it. Ask for this certificate before you leave. It helps you prove your experience to your next employer and supports any claim for unpaid dues.
Final dues besides the gratuity
The end of service gratuity in Oman is only one part of your final settlement. You should also be paid salary for days worked in the final month and any annual leave you earned but did not take, plus any contract benefits such as a ticket home. Ask HR to list each item on a separate line, with the number of days or months behind each figure. Any deduction, such as an unpaid salary advance, should be shown with the reason and the amount.
Check the dates on the settlement against your own contract and visa records. A wrong start date is the most common reason a gratuity comes out too low, because it removes months or years from the calculation. If your employer is changing your contract or moving you to a new company in the same group, ask whether your service will be counted as continuous before you sign.
Before you leave Oman
- Confirm your contract date so you know whether the old-law or new-law method applies.
- Get a written settlement showing your final basic wage, years of service, gratuity, leave pay and deductions.
- Check your bank records against the basic wage used.
- Collect your end-of-service certificate and any original documents your employer holds.
- Do not sign a final release until the money is paid. Raise disputes with the Ministry of Labour while you are still in the country.
Plan from Kenya
Before you accept an Oman offer, check how much of the package is basic wage, because the gratuity depends on it. Our Gulf jobs guide for Kenyans covers the main destinations. Our guide to recruitment agencies versus direct hiring explains what licensed agents should do. Learn how to spot fake job adverts before you pay anyone. If you return to work in Kenya, see service pay and gratuity in Kenya.
Frequently asked questions
How much is end of service gratuity in Oman?
Under Article 61 of Royal Decree 53/2023 it is not less than one month's final basic wage for each year of service, with part-years paid pro rata.
What if my contract was signed under the old law?
A Ministry of Labour circular of August 2026 says such workers get 15 days' wages a year for the first three years and one month's wage for each later year.
Will gratuity in Oman be replaced?
Article 61 applies until the Social Protection Law savings system starts, and the Oman Observer has reported a provident scheme for expatriates from July 2027.
Can I get an end-of-service certificate?
Yes. Article 62 says the employer must issue one free of charge on request.