Muscat: Dr Mahad bin Said Baowain, Minister of Labour, presided over the signing ceremony of the Tawteen Platform and the launch of the Employment Applications System. This event is part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to enhance employment initiatives in a systematic and well-planned manner with high efficiency, within a digital environment that keeps pace with global advancements.
Dr Baowain said the Tawteen platform and Employment Applications System will contribute to empowering the economic sectors to efficiently and effectively implement the National Employment Strategy. Tawteen is a keystone for enhancing collaboration between the public and private sectors, ensuring commitment to the national employment goals.
The minister emphasised that the platform and the Employment Applications System reflect the current trend towards digital transformation, creating an advanced and stimulating digital work environment for all entities operating in the employment sector. These tools will support the work of the Employment Governance Committees, meet the needs of the labour market and enhance job opportunities. They will also introduce new and innovative roles, leveraging the tremendous advancements in artificial intelligence.
The platform and the Employment Applications System represent a qualitative leap in the efforts to support national endeavours aimed at increasing employment opportunities and localisation rates across various economic sectors. This is overseen by the Ministry of Labour, which provides technical support.
During the ceremony, an agreement was signed with the Tawteen. On behalf of the Ministry of Labour, the agreement was signed by Sayyid Salim bin Musallam al Busaidy, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Labour for Human Resources Development, and on behalf of the company, it was signed by Ali bin Ahmed al Mujaini, Chairman of the Board.
During his presentation at the inauguration, Loay al Mujaini, Acting CEO of Tawteen, emphasized the platform's pivotal role in providing essential data insights for regulators. "Tawteen delivers real-time data that empowers regulators to make informed, strategic decisions based on comprehensive workforce trends, job seeker demographics, and educational backgrounds," he stated. This data-driven approach not only identifies labour market gaps but also aids in shaping policies that align with the country's economic needs.
He further elaborated on the significance of In-Country Value (ICV) reports, highlighting how they enable regulators to closely monitor the impact of government contracts on local economic growth. "This allows us to ensure that public spending directly benefits local businesses and supports our national development goals," Al Mujaini added.
Additionally, Al Mujaini underscored the platform’s strategic oversight capabilities: "By understanding the goods and services offered by companies across all sectors, we can identify what is currently being imported instead of supplied locally. This insight serves as a catalyst for localization efforts, guiding Omani SMEs on the specific goods or services they should focus on, thereby promoting areas where local production can effectively meet market demands."
Eng Azhar bin Ahmed al Kindi, Technical Director of the National Employment Programme, stated that the Tawteen platform is an integrated digital system aimed at bridging the gap between job-seekers and available opportunities in the market. It provides an environment that enables companies and local suppliers to develop their businesses and enhance their competitiveness. In light of Oman’s strategic direction, the significance of this platform emerges as a central tool that contributes to realising the national vision regarding empowering local talent and maximising their contribution to economic development.
Al Kindi added that the concept of this platform was built from day one to serve as a national performance dashboard, enabling the comprehensive tracking and analysis of the dynamics of the Omani labour market, covering all aspects of supply and demand. It works on connecting Omani talents with available job opportunities across various sectors, whether through traditional jobs, entrepreneurship, or freelancing. It also serves as a strategic tool that supports decision-makers in various sectors by providing clear insights into employment trends, which contributes to building national competencies and attracting exceptional talents, according to integrated plans aligned with national economic goals and enhancing the capabilities of the local economy.
Al Kindi pointed out that, in the context of the fundamental transformation the employment sector is undergoing, this platform represents a keystone for supporting the efforts of the Employment Governance Committees in the economic sectors, which consist of 16 governance committees working closely between the public and private sectors and civil society institutions, under the supervision of the officials overseeing the sectors. These committees aim to achieve sector-specific employment goals by enhancing local value addition and developing value chains, which contribute to achieving sustainable economic growth.
The Tawteen platform offers a range of solutions and features that help achieve the desired goals, including facilitating the registration of companies and suppliers, enhancing the transparency and efficiency of resource management, and boosting local value addition through tracking and registering Omani products. as well as monitoring operational contracts and supporting the employment of national cadres by providing an updated and comprehensive database of available job opportunities in various sectors, whether directly or indirectly. It also includes performance tracking dashboards that provide comprehensive insights into employment indicators and local value addition, and a dedicated database for local products and services, facilitating contracting and tender processes, along with an integrated system for contract registration and follow-up, in line with the requirements of the relevant authorities.
The Tawteen platform has been designed with exceptional flexibility, allowing decision-makers direct and immediate access to labour market data, enhancing their ability to make strategic decisions supported by facts.
This platform also enables companies to invest local resources efficiently and effectively, in line with the strategic objectives of the National Employment Programme to create sustainable solutions for the labour system. This integrated approach aligns with Oman Vision 2040, based on the Royal Directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, aimed at promoting sustainable development and elevating national competencies.
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