Wednesday 26 / June / 2024
Muscat: The Unified Inspection Unit of the labour market, established through an agreement between the Ministry of Labour and the Safety and Security Corporation, came into effect this month, aiming to foster a fair investment environment in Oman.
The unified inspection unit currently covers three governorates: Muscat, North Al Batinah, and Dhofar, said an official at the Ministry of Labour.
Sheikh Nasr bin Amer Al Hosni, Undersecretary of Labour at the Ministry of Labour, said in an exclusive interview with Times of Oman: “The main objective of the new agreements is to pave the way for SMEs and investors to practice fair competition and enjoy a healthy investment environment that allows only legal institutions to compete. By doing so, it will undoubtedly benefit SMEs and investors. In addition, the new procedures will allow those who are looking for a better opportunity to correct their situation and move forward with a legal work status.”
“The unified inspection unit plans for gradual expansion across the governorates. It’s important to note that the original activities of inspection teams will continue in the remaining governorates,” Al Hosni said. A key aspect of the agreement is the specialised employment of staff in security and inspection, the Undersecretary of Labour said, adding the expansion of these services across the country necessitates the employment of thousands of people.
As for the role of the unit, Al Hosni noted that that Ministry of Labour inspectors closely collaborate with the security unit.
Sheikh Nasr bin Amer Al Hosni
During the judicial investigations conducted by the Ministry’s inspectors, the security team supplements efforts by providing security support services and assisting in transporting the violators to labour welfare centres.
According to Al Hosni, in Oman, illegal activities are generally minimal, with the majority adhering to the law. Exceptions are rare, and the Ministry’s focus is on addressing these outliers to protect investors from any unlawful practices.
Positive investment environment
He also confirmed: “This initiative sends a clear message to investors, SME owners, and businessmen about the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring a positive investment environment, fostering healthy competition, and promoting growth. Moreover, the Ministry has opened avenues for business owners to obtain licences for various types of businesses, fostering a competitive, open, and equal labour market.”
“Providing an international-level monitoring service to private sector facilities, with efficiency and high quality as required by international organisations, requires the assistance of a partner with good experience in this field. Therefore, the Ministry enlists the support of the Safety and Security Corporation to accomplish this task, benefiting investors and the investment environment in the Sultanate,” Sheikh Nasr bin Amer Al Hosni, Undersecretary of Labour at the Ministry of Labour stressed.
According to the Ministry of Labour, the collaborative effort of the unified inspection unit aligns with government directives to bolster the inspection sector by supplementing it with security support services.
It also involves the implementation of new policies to organise the Omani labour market, intensifying inspection campaigns on non-compliant establishments and undocumented labour, and streamlining procedures preceding inspection operations.
