Two sets of labour laws for private, public sector in Oman

Muscat: Workers in Oman will be governed by two laws: one for the public sector, and another for the private sector, according to the Ministry of Labour.

While the new Labour Law will concern private sector personnel in the country, public sector institutions will need to follow the updated Civil Service Law.

The new laws are expected to reward productive employees and positively encourage improvement at the workplace, said Sayyid Salim bin Musallam Al Busaidi, the Undersecretary for Human Resources at the Ministry of Labour.

“We hope productive employees will receive their share of rewards, in the form of promotions, under the new laws,” he said. “Group promotions have become a matter of concern; promotions should instead be reserved for successful employees before others.

“While there will be no increase in working hours under the new laws, companies can modify employment schedules to make sure their work continues smoothly,” added the undersecretary, in an interview with Oman Radio.

“These new laws will motivate people to work and will contain a lot of common ground between employers and employees, as it is aimed at increasing productivity.”

The undersecretary also refuted rumours about married people being denied bonuses, which were circulating on social media.

“There is no link between an employee’s rewards and whether he/she has a husband or wife,” he said.

The drafting of these new laws is also in keeping with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, which looks to turn the nation into a productive society from a rentier one, by increasing economic diversification, creating a strong economic base, providing employment opportunities, and good standards of living.

“This path to get to this ultimate goal may be hard, and there could be challenges, but it is important to know that we are part of a global crisis right now,” said Al Busaidi. “It is important this crisis does not stay forever – it should be our destiny to overcome it.”

The Undersecretary for Human Resources, during the interview, also explained the process required for these proposed laws to become legally binding.

“Any laws we adopt pass through legislative and legal procedures,” he explained. “The cycle of drafting a law begins at its source – where it was first born and includes all those involved in its creation. It then goes to the Council of Ministers and the Council of Oman, which consists of two bodies.

“After this, it goes to the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs,” Al Busaidi went on to add. “Once this is done, a Royal Decree approving the law is issued by His Majesty the Sultan. The time taken to draft a law may be lengthened or decreased, depending on its importance, and the input provided by those associated with it, and its intended impact.”