Malls told to follow Omanisation norms

The Ministry of Labour has reaffirmed that shopping malls and supermarkets will have to adhere to ministerial decision No 8/2021, which stipulates that the practice of some professions in shopping malls and supermarkets will be restricted to Omanis from July 20, 2021.

The following professions in shopping malls and supermarkets will be limited to Omanis — professions in customer service, cashier, currency exchange, administration and shelf-stackers.

The ministry has urged everyone to adhere to the decision mentioned above to avoid penalties against violators.

Work permits for the above-mentioned occupations will not be renewed for non-Omani workers after expiry.

Omanisation in large commercial establishments is feasible, and it has been well-received, said the Minister of Manpower recently in an interview.

“Some other countries have also completely nationalised these sectors, and after a study, we found that it is easy to apply in Oman. Even if there is a need for training, there are solutions and we have opened part-time work students in universities and also for housewives’’, Dr Mahad bin Said bin Ali al Baowain, Minister of Labour.

In the first quarter of 2021, the number of Omanis who were appointed for the first time in the private sector is 3,010, which include 677 citizens without a General Education Diploma, 909 citizens with a General Education Diploma and its equivalent, 390 citizens with a university diploma, 1,011 university graduates, and 23 citizens with a master’s and doctorate degrees.

In addition, 110 job opportunities were provided through the Ministry of Labour initiatives resulting from the decisions of localisation of professions, the initiative to finance educational qualification and partial work initiatives, and 2,974 job opportunities resulting from training and qualification in the human resources development and via training associated with employment, on-the-job training, and the entrepreneurship programme for small and medium enterprises.