GFOW receives 3,997 complaints against layoffs in 2023

MUSCAT, APRIL 3

The General Federation of Oman Workers (GFOW) has revealed in a report that it received a significant 3,997 complaints from around 51 establishments challenging the termination of their employment contracts during 2023.

Other complaints related to delayed payments, cessation of wages, poor working conditions and non-compliance with safety and occupational health standards. A significant number of Omani and non-Omani workers were also dismissed by private sector establishments.

Additionally, the federation oversaw 393 legal consultations while handling labour complaints from labour unions, general sectoral unions, and groups of workers in the private sector.

Moreover, the Federation provided legal assistance in 20 labour cases in 2023, 11 of which were resolved in favour of the workers, while the rest are still pending resolution.

The number of labour unions in the Sultanate of Oman has grown to a total of 327, distributed across 16 sectors. The majority fall within the commerce and industry sector (99 or 30%), followed by the oil and gas sector (82 or 25%), and the construction and contracting sector (32 or 9.7%).

Only four new unions were established in 2023, which represents a sharp drop from the number of unions formed in the previous year (17). The new unions were in the transport sector (2), and one each in the construction and contracting sector, and the water and electricity sector.

Muscat Governorate accounts for 47.7% of the unions, followed by North Al Batinah Governorate (22%), Al Wusta Governorate (14.37%), and Governorate of Dhofar (5.19%).

Additionally, according to the report, there are currently seven main general sectoral unions in Oman. They operate as centralised organisations which include several unions within that sector. They aim to facilitate and coordinate between the unions and the federation.

The seven general sectorial unions represent the following sectors: oil and gas, education, construction, tourism, electricity, and retail and distribution sector.