Oman announces early release of salaries of public and private sector employees ahead of Eid al-Fitr 2026 | World News

As Eid al-Fitr 1447 approaches, Omani authorities have instructed government entities and private companies to release March salaries earlier than usual to help workers prepare for the holiday. The move is aimed at ensuring the financial stability of employees across the country ahead of the holidays, with ministries setting specific deadlines for payroll processing and payments.The Ministry of Finance issued Notice No. 1/2026, instructing state agencies to expedite the processing of wages for state administrative agency staff. The directive outlines a series of deadlines that ministries and government units must adhere to to ensure March salaries and pensions are paid before Eid al-Fitr.According to the notification, March 8, 2026 has been set as the last date for ministries, departments and government entities to enter salary data into their respective human resources systems. Following this step, the internal audit unit must complete the review and approval of salary payment vouchers within the unified financial system by March 15, 2026. Once these procedures are completed, the official payment date for March wages and pensions will be March 17, 2026.In addition to the government directive, the Ministry of Labor issued a separate notification to all private sector establishments operating under the Labor Code (Royal Decree No. 53/2023). The ministry directed employers to expedite salary payments to their workers in view of the upcoming Eid holiday.

The notice states that employers must ensure March 2026 wages are deposited by Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The ministry stressed that companies must adhere to this schedule to help workers meet their financial needs during the holidays.In an announcement, the labor ministry said the directive was issued specifically for the upcoming Eid al-Fitr celebrations. The ministry said all private enterprises covered by the Labor Law must expedite the payment of March wages to workers and ensure that funds are transferred before the prescribed deadline.By setting clear deadlines for public and private sector employers, Omani authorities aim to ensure workers receive their wages in time for Eid al-Fitr, allowing families across the country to prepare for the holiday without financial delays.