Tuesday 11 / February / 2025
Muscat: The Shura Council, represented by the Youth and Human Resources Committee and the Economic and Financial Committee, hosted Khalid Suleiman Al-Ghamari, Undersecretary for Labour, along with several ministry specialists.
The purpose was to discuss on various files raised by the esteemed members of both committees, including the application of the Wage Protection System (WPS) and the follow-up measures for the dismissed employees from Oman Aviation Company and Al-Bashair for Meats.
During the session, the Youth and Human Resources Committee discussed with ministry specialists the role played by the Ministry of Labour in the ongoing restructuring at Oman Aviation Company and Al-Bashair for Meats.
The committee was briefed on the developments in the re-employment plan for those employees excluded from the restructuring process, with the aim of creating job opportunities for them.
Several esteemed members of the Youth and Human Resources Committee expressed their opinions concerning the restructuring. Citing feedback previously received from the affected employees, their remarks focused on the technical aspects of the new contracts being offered.
They stressed the need for qualifying and training these employees so that they may be absorbed into roles and positions under the Investment Authority.
Joint discussions were held between the Youth and Human Resources Committee and the Economic and Financial Committee with the Undersecretary.
These discussions addressed the implications of the Wage Protection System and the Ministry’s initiatives to enhance it.
During the exchange, the participants were apprised of the rationale behind launching the system, its objectives, and the expected outcomes.
They also reviewed the ministry’s plan regarding exemptions for certain professions unique to Oman, as well as its approach to reducing imposed fines—proposing that such fines be levied on the establishment rather than on the number of employees with delayed wages, as was originally implemented.
The meeting examined the possibility of a phased implementation of the penalty provisions or the establishment of a fixed timeline and grace period.
This measure is intended to ensure the continued operation of small and medium enterprises without undue financial burden, with particular to micro-companies under the WPS.
In attendance were His Younis Ali Al-Manthari, Chairman of the Youth and Human Resources Committee, and Ahmed Saeed Al-Sharqi, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Committee, along with the esteemed members of both committees. Together, they reviewed several proposals aimed at strengthening the Wage Protection System. Among these proposals were the creation of a dedicated online portal for receiving complaints—with each
submission being assigned a unique tracking number from the outset—and the establishment of an appeals committee empowered to review issued decisions, resolve complaints, and correct any legal discrepancies within a period not exceeding 15 days.
A proposal was also advanced to issue warning notices to institutions that fail to pay wages on time, in order to prevent fines from being imposed on the establishment.
In addition, the possibility of establishing a 24-hour hotline was discussed to field inquiries and complaints regarding the decision, clarify its implementation mechanism, and address grievances in a manner similar to that adopted by certain other governmental service entities.
The meeting further addressed the ministry’s role in granting distressed companies a sufficient period to adjust their circumstances prior to the enforcement of the decision.
It also reviewed the ministry of Labour’s efforts in providing facilitation measures for the construction sector (targeting small enterprises), given the inherent challenges in implementing the Wage Protection System within that sector.
The esteemed members of the committees affirmed the necessity of giving due consideration to small and medium enterprises, given their heightened susceptibility to rapid changes stemming from measures related to the system.
They underscored the importance of regulating the labour market in the Sultanate of Oman while taking into account the existing professions and positions within these enterprises.
