The Youth and Human Resources Committee of the Shura Council hosted officials from the Social Protection Fund this morning (Thursday) to discuss the recent decision to extend the disbursement period of the job security allowance for an additional 12 months for all beneficiaries who have completed six months of eligibility, with a gradual reduction in the allowance. The meeting also addressed several societal issues related to the fund that concern citizens and local matters.

At the beginning of the meeting, the CEO of the fund, Dr. Faisal bin Abdullah Al-Farsi, gave a presentation to the committee members. He detailed the fund’s objectives, the stages of its development, its tasks and responsibilities, and the eligibility criteria for beneficiaries. Additionally, he outlined the organizational structure of the fund and the committees operating under it, while also presenting examples of similar funds in the Arab region.
The presentation also covered the Social Protection Law, the role of the Job Security Committee, which coordinates between the fund and other relevant government entities, and statistical data on the number of beneficiaries of the job security allowance in Oman, including its geographic distribution across the country’s wilayats and governorates. Dr. Al-Farsi further elaborated on the system of gradual reduction in allowances for laid-off workers, explaining the rationale behind it, its objectives, and the fund’s plans to align with employment policies in Oman and enhance its governance practices.
Members of the Youth and Human Resources Committee emphasized the critical role of the fund in easing financial burdens on laid-off workers. They also highlighted the need to address governance shortcomings within the fund. Several queries were raised regarding the reduction in allowances, a decision made by the fund earlier.
The committee members stressed the importance of expediting the reemployment of laid-off workers, prioritizing their reintegration into the workforce to ease the financial strain on the fund and enable it to focus on achieving its other goals. They also called for greater media and public outreach to promote transparency and awareness about the fund’s operations.
In addition to these discussions, the committee reviewed and deliberated on several issues referred to it by the Council’s office, including the Ministry of Labor’s 2023 annual report and preparations for the ministerial data program for the second annual session (2024–2025) of the tenth term. The committee also discussed a letter from the Council of Ministers regarding the categorization of service ministries.
The meeting, chaired by His Excellency Younis bin Ali Al-Mandhri, Chairman of the Youth and Human Resources Committee, was part of the second meeting between the first and second sessions of the Council’s tenth term (2023–2027) and was attended by the committee’s esteemed members.