MUSCAT: The Consumer Protection Authority (CPA) announced that an establishment providing domestic worker recruitment services was found guilty of multiple violations, including failure to meet contractual obligations and non-compliance with legal requirements. The violations included delays in providing workers, failure to refund payments, issuing invoices not written in Arabic, and supplying workers who did not meet agreed-upon specifications. These actions were deemed to be in direct breach of the Consumer Protection Law, which obligates suppliers to deliver services in accordance with their nature and contract terms.
Investigations revealed that consumers had signed agreements with the office expecting timely and compliant services, only to experience delays and unfulfilled promises. The CPA’s Directorate General in North Al Batinah received complaints and conducted thorough investigations, confirming that the office had failed to complete recruitment procedures and had ignored its responsibilities under Articles 39 and 23 of the law. These provisions clearly require suppliers to either provide the service properly, refund the service value, or offer compensation in case of breach.
The matter was escalated to the Public Prosecution, which referred the case to the competent court. After examining the evidence, the court convicted the establishment and its representative, sentencing them to imprisonment ranging from one to two months and imposing a combined fine of RO 3,560. The penalties were specifically for failure to fulfill the service obligations and for issuing invoices that were not compliant with Arabic language requirements, as mandated by law.
The CPA reaffirmed its commitment to protecting consumer rights and ensuring market integrity. It urged all businesses to comply with laws and regulations governing service delivery, warning that strict legal action will be taken against violators. The authority emphasized that such measures are essential to maintaining transparency, consumer trust, and fair trade practices in Oman’s marketplace.
