SPF to implement maternity leave insurance from July 19

Muscat: The Social Protection Fund (SPF) is holding a press conference to introduce the new Maternity Leave Insurance branch. The event will include participation from UNICEF, ILO, ISSA, UNFPA Gulf Cooperation Council, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Social Affairs.

SPF has announced that it will begin implementing the maternity leave insurance branch from July 19.

The goal of implementing this branch is to provide social protection for families and working mothers, offering social insurance against risks, empowering and appreciating the role of working women socially and economically. It aims to ensure and preserve the rights of both employers and the insured while expanding insurance coverage to include non-Omani workers in Oman.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sub-regional Office for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) emphasized that reproductive health is fundamental to equal economic and social participation. Prioritizing reproductive health, including maternity and paternity leave, can boost productivity, reduce absenteeism, and enhance the economic empowerment of women and society as a whole.

Malik Al Harithi, Director General of Benefits, stated: “This media meeting organized by the Social Protection Fund today aims to highlight one of the most important and newest branches of social insurance stipulated in the Social Protection Law issued by Royal Decree No. 52/2023, which is the maternity leave insurance branch being applied for the first time in the Sultanate of Oman.”

Employers are obligated to contribute one percent of the full wage, calculated without a specific ceiling and on a daily basis, to the branch.

The total number of beneficiaries from the maternity leave insurance branch is 225,981 individuals, including 160,886 Omanis.

The law introducing 98 days of maternity leave and seven days of paternity leave will be effective from July as part of the social protection system and its executive regulations. From July 19, the Social Protection Fund (SPF) will implement maternity leave insurance for both Omani and non-Omani employees across sectors in the Sultanate of Oman. This new law represents a significant shift towards a comprehensive and holistic approach to social protection across the life cycle. It ensures integration between social assistance and social insurance schemes to guarantee dignity and well-being for a decent standard of living and strengthens employment opportunities and active labor participation.

This initiative is part of a strategic effort to enhance benefits within the SPF, aligning with Oman Vision 2040's goal of ensuring well-being and social protection to support a decent and sustainable life for all. The new legislation aims to create a more attractive and responsive labor market characterized by flexibility, efficiency, and the capacity to manage challenges effectively. It prioritizes national capabilities, enhances institutional performance, and improves administrative practices. The law considers the social aspects of the workforce to boost productivity and performance, particularly among women.

Under the new provisions, women are entitled to 98 days of maternity leave, with the option to take up to 14 days before the expected birth date. Men are entitled to seven days of paternity leave, provided the child is born alive, and this leave must be taken within 98 days of the child's birth. These leave periods are included within the employee’s actual service period. Employers are prohibited from requiring women to return to work during their maternity leave. If an insured woman changes her workplace, she will continue to receive the maternity leave allowance based on her last wage before the move.

Huda Al Jardaniya, Director of the Maternity Leave Benefits Allowance Project at the SPF, explained that employers must contribute 1 percent of the monthly wage to the maternity leave insurance as stipulated in Article 128 of the Social Protection Law. This provision applies to all Omanis working in Oman, regardless of contract type, including temporary, training, and retired workers, as well as non-Omani workers in specified categories determined by the Council. However, these provisions do not apply to self-employed Omanis, part-time Omani employees, Omanis working in Gulf Cooperation Council countries, or those employed abroad. Maternity leave insurance, as one of the social insurance branches outlined in the SPL, aims to provide social protection by ensuring women on maternity leave receive 100 percent of their salary during the leave period.