The Social Protection Law promulgated by Royal Decree No 52/2023 issued by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik is one of the most significant national social protection laws in Oman's history.
This law guarantees the provision of a decent life for citizens from the cradle to the grave.
Through the issuance of this law, His Majesty the Sultan also extends state care to all persons of all walks of society and throughout all their lives under all conditions, including handicapped children, and other groups.
The law seeks to achieve fairness and equality among workers based on sound scientific foundations, including equal rights in retirement pensions following the unification of pension funds, which was a real concern for workers in the public and private sectors, in addition to the military sector.
With the promulgation of the Social Protection Law by Royal Decree, we can conclude that the country's social welfare system has not only been completed, but has also become effective, robust, and cohesive. To demonstrate the gravity of the situation, the Decree required the fund's board of directors to release the executive regulations within six months of the issue of the Decree.
In its consistent structure, the law managed to address every component of social services and did not ignore a single detail, beginning with the elderly, who are the fathers, mothers, and grandfathers, and those who spent their youth in the service of the precious homeland and deserve all respect, admiration, and reverence.
As a result, they were at the top of the list, which is referred to as the ‘golden rank.’ Next come the children, people with disabilities, orphans, and widows.
Furthermore, the legislation did not disregard disability, death, workplace injuries, occupational illnesses, job security, maternity leave, sick leave, and sabbatical leave, among other considerations.
So, in its ideal form, the law aims to create a comprehensive and accurate social system that includes flexible insurance measures that allow employees to save for after-service.
These tremendous national and social improvements that the country is undertaking in terms of caring for the people and providing a means for all segments of the public to achieve a high standard of life are extremely satisfying.
Without a doubt, the enactment of the Social Protection Law symbolises a watershed event that affirms His Majesty Sultan's deep concern and eagerness to care for citizens, particularly those in severe need of care that achieves respectable and high living conditions.
The above is exactly what His Majesty the Sultan pledged in his first speech after assuming power in the country, as well as his continuous promises to build a sustainable social system that serves the requirements of inhabitants.
Now the ball is in the citizens’ court after His Majesty fulfilled his commitment, starting with the unification of pension funds and reforming the Social Security Law.
As a result, all government personnel must now prioritise production, endurance, commitment, and sincerity. The country is undergoing unprecedented changes, and the people should strive for significant achievements in all areas of growth, which includes agriculture, industry, and investment in order to sustain the national economy and move it forward.
Through this, the State's promise has been fulfilled. As a result, the purpose and expected return for all residents is to activate and boost their productive, intellectual, and creative energies.
It is now both feasible and necessary to activate the concept of absolute giving. Rather, it is the best reward for which we must work with all our efforts as citizens who love our nation and His Majesty, to express our gratitude to the State in the form of increased productivity and enlightened intellect.
However, some people want to tailor sustainable social systems to their personal preferences, stigmatising society with dependency and laziness by including groups that other frameworks address and their inclusion in social protection laws implies that the State and society do not address them radically.
We hope that the adoption of the Social Protection Law would usher in great new beginnings with no barriers in all domains of growth, enhancement, and modernisation.
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