Muscat: Many citizens have hailed His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and the government for enacting the Social Protection Law and setting up of the Social Protection Fund.
These ground-breaking reforms will lead to the integration of 11 separate pension schemes into one single national system. The new proposed pension system balances the different objectives of enhancing intergenerational equity, increasing financial sustainability, improving adequacy of benefits and extending coverage, especially among the most vulnerable workers.
The reform also provides for the extension of short-term contributory benefits in case of employment injury, maternity, paternity, unemployment and sickness benefits. The reforms also provide benefits for older persons, persons with disabilities and children.
Mubarak bin Khamis al Hamdani said that there is no doubt that the new development model of the Sultanate of Oman is based on social protection policies.
He said the effort to establish an integrated framework for social protection will allow public policy makers to draw up social policies and provide aid and benefits. It will help most needy groups to get the assistance and improve quality of their life. Huda bint Salem al Khatriyah explained that the social protection system aims to provide support and care for the neediest groups, improve the quality of life of individuals and meet their basic needs like healthcare, housing and education.
Dr Rajab al Owaisi said entitlements under the social protection system reflects His Majesty the Sultan's keenness to provide a decent life for the citizens.
Dr Amal al Jahwariyah said the social protection system is in line with Oman Vision 2040 and is consistent with government's policy on social protection, which aims to provide fair coverage and adequate social protection for all segments of society. Salem bin Ali al Harthy said that the social protection system is designed to protect individuals and societies from various risks and vulnerabilities such as disease, disability and old age.
Madreen al Maktoumiyah said that the social protection system will eliminate some of the challenges that were facing many initiatives. It helps citizens in better retirement planning. Wafa al Ghassaniyah indicated that the social protection system covers all segments of society, especially the elderly, children, orphans, widows, lower-income families and elderly retirees.
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