Take up private sector part-time jobs to build capacity

Energy Tuesday 10/July/2018 21:07 PM
By: Times News Service

Madiha Asif

[email protected]

Muscat: The government encourages local students, job-seekers and current employees to take up part-time jobs in the private sector that will help build their capabilities for the labour market.

According to Implementation Support and Follow-up Unit’s (ISFU) annual report, this initiative is focused on improving the current part-time work policy to enhance workforce readiness based on the job market needs and to manage short/long term economic requirements.

“Introducing the new alignment of the part-time work policy is expected to enhance the employability skills of nationals as school and higher education students can acquire hands-on experience during their studies,” the report said.

Noaman Abdul Majid, Country Manager at Pak Oman Investment Company said this is a timely move to encourage young Omanis to gain practical experience and evaluate their own aptitude before making a full time commitment to a particular professional discipline.

“In addition, they will be able to compliment their income and will also be able to meet their operating expenses as well as pursue their further studies.

“This move by the government is in line with international best practices in the developed countries to groom their youth as per the

practical requirements of the industry,” Majid added.

Moreover, Raed Mohammed Dawood, Director of Government Relations and Corporate Affairs, Ooredoo said that it is a great way to earn and develop professionally while ensuring work-life balance.

"Busy is becoming the new normal and many people are now looking at part-time work as a way of balancing career with other aspects of their lives. It is definitely a great way to earn and develop professionally while ensuring work-life balance and it’s also a great opportunity for young people to get experience,” Dawood said.

Also, SalamAir has already started creating part-time positions for the summer programme.

“We have already begun creating part-time positions and started filling them with summer trainees during the summer and will be employing those who have successfully completed SalamAir’s ‘trainee’ program, converting them into part-time employees post the summer. Part of our mission is to create a work environment where our team members can not only develop, but can thrive,” said Salam Al Kindi, Director of Corporate Support at SalamAir.

“As the government continues to make strides in promoting the hiring of Omanis for part-time positions within the private sector, we at SalamAir are on board with the initiative and plan to continue to play our part in the hiring and development of local talent,” Al Kindi added.

Assimilating the real number of part-time workers, however, have been challenging since most of them have not in fact registered, the report pointed out.

“Part-time workers fear that registering may impact their search for full-time jobs or cost them social security benefits,” the report

said.

Therefore, in this regard, the Public Authority for Manpower Register (PAMR) integrated the part-time job registration process to the already established National Integrated Manpower Register (NIMR) system.

“The user-friendly system is planned out in such a way that the part-time job seeker will not lose the opportunity to get a permanent job,” the official from Ministry of Manpower (MoM) said.

“People should not fear registering for a part-time job thinking it will reduce their chances of getting a permanent job. In fact, working part-time will help them gain experience that will increase the chances of getting jobs,” the official added.

To accomplish these objectives, the MoM issued a Ministerial Decision (40/2017) that incorporates part-time and temporary work regulations as proposed by the initiative working group. However, a final draft of the amended Ministerial Decision is expected to be issued in 2018 after discussing with stakeholders agreeing to include students in the part-time work policy.

“To include students in the part-time work policy, the ISFU, in cooperation with the MoM, facilitated syndication with Ministry of Education, Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Legal Affairs on the way forward,” the report said.

Also, to create awareness about the programme, the MoM and ISFU played a vital role throughout the 11 governorates of the country through explanatory videos and infographics in traditional media and social media platforms.