Shura Office discusses bank loan repayments issue of citizens

Muscat: The Majlis Al Shura Office discussed the opinion of the Economic and Financial Committee on the postponement of bank loan repayments of citizens, be they personal, consumer or housing loans. 

This was done to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the incomes of citizens and in a way that does not negatively affect the health of the banking and financial sector. 

During the meeting, the Majlis Al Shura members discussed the proposal to create a new article in the Traffic Law with the right of the owner to cancel registration of the vehicle or to suspend its licence as there is no article in the law which handles final cancellation or temporary suspension of the vehicle licence and the mechanism for reactivation of the licence when required. 

Following the discussions, Majlis Al Shura Office decided to refer the issue to the upcoming regular session of Shura. 

The meeting also reviewed the reply of the Legislative and Legal Committee on the proposal of a draft law on amendments of some provisions of the Advocacy Act submitted by one of the members of Majlis Al Shura.  

The meeting also reviewed the reply of the Economic and Financial Committee on the idea brought to the Committee by one of the members of Majlis on bringing at par the wages, allowances and benefits of employees at the private sector with the state –owned companies in the same sector. 

The meeting was chaired by Sheikh Khalid bin Hilal Al Mawali, Chairman of Majlis Al Shura in the presence of the members and Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Nadabi, Secretary General of Majlis. 

The meeting also discussed a letter from one of the members of Majlis Al Shura on regulating the voluntary work in the Sultanate, which included a request for referral of the subject to the Services and Social Development Committee for consideration with the categories of the society concerned with voluntary work. 

The Majlis Office also reviewed the reply of the Minister of Education on the civil engineers working with the Ministry of Education on contract and appointment (Omanis and Non-Omanis). On the ministry’s plan for replacement of expatriate civil engineers with Omanis, the reply of the minister showed that it was subject to availability of the funds required for employment.