The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) recently issued ministerial decision 4/2011 to organise the operation of individual projects within residences.
The decision allows Omanis to start business from their homes doing away with the need to rent premises. They will also face easier procedures and lower payment to obtain a license.
To shed light on the decision, Muscat Daily talked to Sheikh Salah al Mawali, director of the small and medium enterprises department at MoCI. "The decision includes men and women as long as the business is practiced inside the home, but in fact, most of the activities included in the decision are associated more with women than men.
"The decision aims at facilitating the procedures for obtaining a license for commercial business at home and to reduce the expenses to get it. The charge to obtain this license is RO3 for a period of three years. The license can be renewed at the same charge," Mawali said.
The business activities that are included in the decision are: 'preparing and packing dates, preparing other foodstuff, selling of perfumes and frankincense, printing, photocopying and computer services, women clothes tailoring and rent of wedding gowns and party dresses, sale of natural and manufactured flowers, wrapping presents, shayla and abaya tailoring, woven products, henna making, hairdressing and beautification, organising wedding parties and video and still photography'.
Regarding the regulations that will be included in the new law, Mawali said that those who plan to start businesses at home will not be allowed to employ workers from outside the family. "They have to manage with the workers who are already employed in the house or with immediate family members."
Mawali said, "They will not be allowed to sell or give their licence to other people. They should also avoid any commercial activity that can cause heat, dust, smoke, noise or anything else that may annoy other people in the neighbourhood."
The business owners will also be asked to provide a hygienic and safe work environment to avoid any harmful health effects. They will also be asked to refrain from keeping any machine or equipment outside their house. "They should keep goods inside their houses as well as avoid storing any chemical, flammable, hazardous or poisonous substances," Mawali said.
The people who wish to start their business activities from home have the choice of putting a signboard of not more than 30cm by 60cm, which will mention their commercial activity along with the name of the licence holder and the type of business.
© Muscat Daily 2011
