The number of job-seekers for the first time crossed the 20,000 mark in the Sultanate of Oman. The number of employees who availed the job security benefit increased by about 3,000 in 2022, compared to 2021.
The Ministry of Labour (MoL) provided 35,000 jobs during 2022 in the public and private sectors and achieved over 100 percent of job occupancy in the target segments.
The ministry explained that the number of job-seekers till the end of October 2022 stood at more than 85,000.
The figures were disclosed by Dr. Mahad bin Said Baowain, Minister of Labour, on the sidelines of a meeting with governors in Muscat on Sunday to discuss employment in the public and private sectors, investment in governorates, Omanisation of professions and the challenges facing the governorates in localising jobs.
MoL also launched a new app Ma’ak (With You) which targets the concerns of job-seekers, the national workforce and employers. In its first version, the app provides more than 11 digital services for job-seekers. More services will be added later.
Shaikh Nasr bin Amer al Hosni, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Labour for Labour, said, “The meeting seeks to familiarise the governors with the ministry’s policy, its plans for next year, and the requirements of employment in each governorate.”
The meeting elaborated on the employment program and initiatives through mechanisms that were espoused right from the beginning, as well as the pertaining challenges.
The program also covered the system of individual and institutional performance proficiency, mechanisms for implementing the training programmes, the initiatives presented by the Training Support Centre, the National System for Capacity Building and Talent Management, and the tasks of the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit’s office.
Each governor shared a vision that targets his governorate—an initiative that the governor intends to incorporate in the economy.
The meeting includes a session of discussion between the governors and officials of the Ministry of Labour to outline the challenges facing each governor.
The discussions aim to explain the views of the ministry’s officials through a vision that explores the plans of the ministry and its concepts in decision-making in accordance with the overall National Vision.
Fahd bin Khalfan al Batashi, Assistant Director General of Planning for Information Technology and head of the Digital Transformation Team at the Ministry of Labour, said Ma’ak app constitutes the second channel for the ministry’s digital services. In the next phase, the app will include the services rendered to employers (individuals and establishments), Omani and non-Omani workforce.
“This project serves as a reflection of the efforts taken to execute digital transformation projects while utilising smartphone applications within the country’s national digitisation plan in line with the pillars of Oman Vision 2040.
“There are many electronic services, the most important of which is viewing job-seeker profiles, activating search status for job-seekers, electronic application of job opportunities in the private and public sectors, the ability to save and share any job opportunities, the possibility of sharing profiles and CVs with employers, accepting and reviewing employment contracts and many services.” The platform does not only target job-seekers, but also includes employees and businesses.
“The most notable services targeted at employers are the registration of job permits, work reports, tickets/ refund requests and employment contracts.”
Employees can update personal data, apply for job opportunities, and file work-related complaints.
The application also provides a job-seeker with search options for vacant jobs, based on educational level, gender, geographical location details (the governorate, the wilayat), and acceptance of employment contracts offered to national job-seekers.
During the meeting, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion affirmed that, since March 2022, the number of economic activities prohibited for foreign investment in governorates stood at 78.
The meeting was held within the context of exchanging views with officials and engaging in meaningful decision making that response to the decentralization policy, given its significance in advancing the national economy.
This meeting also sought to contribute to upgrading the vision of the governors as they endeavor to promote their respective governorates.
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