Muscat: In a fillip to Omanisation across sectors, the Ministry of Labour is planning to provide 35,000 jobs for citizens this year. The MoL has completed a review regarding the fees of expat work visas. “We have completed the review of visa fees and it will be announced within a few weeks,” said Mahad Bin Said Bin Ali Baawain, Minister of Labour in an online press conference on Thursday. He said the new labour law has been submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval while reviewing the ministry’s achievements in 2021 and detailing plans for 2022 in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
The minister said there is a proposal to raise the minimum wage of RO 325 but it depends on the state of economy and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The number of those who got private sector jobs reached 49,276, of whom 42,609 were appointed on contract and 6,667 through training in 2021
The number of expatriate workers who left the country reached 58,720 last year.
The number of jobs announced in the government sector is 19,097, including 12,669 through replacement and direct employment, and 6,428 via training.
The minister said 9,859 citizens were given on-the-job training in various sectors last year.
Under Etimad programme, 247 citizens were trained for senior level jobs.
“ 57 government institutions implemented the individual and institutional performance system Ejada and more than 140,000 employees were trained to use this system,” said Baawain.
Job Security System benefitted 10,995 citizens of whom maximum were from the North Al Batinah governorate.
The ministry, through its digital transformation plan, linked 30 government agencies online.
In 2021, MoL collected RO 232.9 million as fees of licenses and employment contracts, fines and other sources.
The ministry is working on laws and legislation regulating the labor market in accordance with professional standards and a stimulating work environment that keeps pace with changes. It is also working on ministerial decisions regulating the labor market and supporting the replacement policy.
