The national efforts, led by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, to transform the Sultanate of Oman among the ranks of developed countries, are based on a set of pillars to make its labour market vibrant with clear goals of attracting talent, and making pace with demographic, economic, knowledge and technical changes.
While chairing the meeting of the Supervisory Committee of the National Employment Programme, His Majesty the Sultan was briefed about the employment-related issues. His Majesty reviewed the programme, plans, work methodology, and its objectives.
There has been a clear directive from the government to the public and private sectors to cooperate and support the National Employment Programme, develop plans and programmes to employ the people of the country, and provide sustainable job opportunities, in line with the Sultanate of Oman’s Vision 2040.
This raises hope for appropriate changes in the administrative and procedural systems to accommodate the job seekers.
Nabhan bin Ahmed al Battashi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Federation of Omani Workers, said, “The diversity of challenges related to the work environment in the private sector, resulting from work variables and patterns, economic transformations, heterogeneity between economic and social plans.”
The growing number of job seekers, termed as “long-term unemployment”, the social protection floor and the structures of social dialogue, are results of the regulatory environment of the labour market at the national level.
Additionally, there is a challenge of competition between citizens and foreigners when it comes to filling the job opportunities, said Al Battashi.
Al Battashi stressed robust economic policy was essential for balanced financial plans and investment programmes.
