The Youth and Human Resources Committee of the Shura Council hosted this morning (Sunday) H.E. Dr. Mansoor Al Hinai, President of the Authority for Public Services Regulation, together with specialists from the Authority and officials from Nama Water Services, as part of the Committee’s follow-up of operational contracts awarded by the Authority to companies operating in the electricity and water sectors, as well as initiatives relating to workforce development and the qualification of the national workforce employed in the sectors under the Authority’s supervision. The meeting also examined ongoing efforts to expand employment opportunities and enhance the capabilities of national talent.
At the outset of the meeting, H.E. Younis Al Mundhri, Chairman of the Youth and Human Resources Committee, welcomed the President of the Authority and the accompanying delegation, commending the constructive cooperation between the Committee and the Authority on matters relating to employment and human resources. He reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to following up on issues concerning employment, training, and operational employment contracts with service providers in order to create sustainable employment opportunities that strengthen job security for Omani citizens and enhance the readiness of national competencies to fill positions in strategic sectors.
His Excellency explained that the meeting had been convened to discuss issues relating to vacancies for meter readers, operational contracts in the water sector, and employment prospects following the Sultanate of Oman’s agreement with the French company SUEZ.
The meeting discussed a number of issues relating to the working environment within companies regulated by the Authority, foremost among them measures to reduce disparities in salaries and employment benefits between directly employed staff and employees working for subcontracting companies. Participants emphasised the importance of introducing measures that promote employment equity, motivate and retain national talent, and improve working environments in a manner that contributes to higher-quality services and enhanced institutional performance.
The meeting also reviewed the Authority’s efforts to increase Omanisation across all occupational levels through programmes and initiatives aimed at raising Omanisation rates in technical, specialised, and administrative positions and expanding the employment of national talent across the sectors under the Authority’s regulation. These efforts support the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 relating to human capital development, increasing the participation of 


national competencies in the labour market, and enabling them to assume specialised and leadership positions.
For his part, H.E. Dr. Mansoor Al Hinai affirmed the Authority’s commitment to ensuring job stability for employees working in companies contracted by the Authority. He explained that the agreement concluded with the French company includes explicit provisions safeguarding the employment of the national workforce in companies operating within the water sector. He added that the agreement also provides enhanced employee benefits and incentives, together with opportunities for training, professional development, and capacity building. In addition, the Authority is considering a number of employment-related proposals aimed at making greater use of the expertise available within companies contracted by the Authority, particularly in the areas of knowledge transfer, technical and administrative capacity building, benefiting from the company's international experience, and preparing a new generation of national leaders capable of leading the sector in accordance with international best practices.
Dr. Al Hinai also briefed Committee Members on the Authority’s principal initiatives in the field of training and workforce development, explaining that, in cooperation with the companies it regulates, the Authority is implementing specialised training programmes designed to enhance the technical and administrative skills of employees, improve their readiness to undertake a wide range of roles, and raise productivity and performance across the regulated sectors. He further noted that the Authority has already begun addressing the outstanding issues concerning vacancies for meter readers.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Youth and Human Resources Committee welcomed the announcement made by the Authority for Public Services Regulation during the previous week regarding a recruitment package comprising 631 employment opportunities under the "Nu'ahil Li Numakkin" (Train to Empower) programme for training and employment. The Committee considered the initiative an important step towards supporting national employment efforts and preparing Omani talent for entry into the labour market. It also commended the Authority’s efforts to increase Omanisation in technical and operational positions within companies under its supervision, supported by training programmes that contribute to raising Omanisation rates and creating sustainable career pathways for Omani youth.
The meeting was chaired by H.E. Younis Al Mundhri, Chairman of the Youth and Human Resources Committee, and attended by the Committee Members.