Minister of Labour calls for faster replacement of expats in government firms

Muscat: The Minister of Labour has asked companies in Oman to expedite the replacement of expat workforce with Omani nationals.

The Ministry of Labour, in cooperation with the Oman Investment Authority, held a meeting with CEOs of government firms discussing replacement plans and the priority for employing Omanis in leadership and supervisory roles.

During the meeting, they reviewed ways of cooperation between the Ministry of Labour and government companies to enhance productivity and support employment of the national workforce at all levels in general, and the specialists and technicians in particular, to ensure the achievement of Oman Vision 2040.

The meeting was chaired by Dr Mahad bin Said bin Ali Ba’owain, Minister of Labour, who stressed the need to accelerate the replacement of the expat workforce with the national workforce, calling for the importance of training and qualifying the national workforce on the job. He also highlighted how firms can benefit from services provided by the ministry in this regard.

The Minister also emphasised the Ministry’s initiative to overcome difficulties, provide necessary facilities and simplify procedures to enhance the contribution of government firms in providing new jobs for Omanis, directly or in companies that contract with them from the subcontracts.

The meeting included a visual presentation on the data of workers from the national and expatriate workforce in government companies, the economic sectors these companies practised in, and the nationalisation rates achieved, in addition to a review of the data of active job seekers according to various disciplines.

Officials in government companies have expressed their willingness to present replacement plans and vigorously follow up their implementation to ensure the provision of job opportunities for the national workforce and contribute to their stability, support, development and regulation of the labour market.

The meeting also discussed the difficulties and challenges facing companies and the private sector in light of the current economic conditions, and it was agreed to find appropriate solutions to make the private sector more flexible in terms of employment, and to streamline the procedures and services provided by the Ministry for private sector establishments.