Economic and Financial” and “Youth and Human Resources” Committees Discuss with Ministry of Labor the Latest Developments on Employment of Citizens in the Private Sector
12 يونيو 2025
The Economic and Financial Committee and the Youth and Human Resources Committee of the Shura Council held a joint meeting with H.E. Khalid Rashid Al-Ghamari, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour for Labour, to discuss the latest updates regarding the Ministry’s recent decision mandating private sector companies, whose commercial registrations are over one year old to employ at least one Omani citizen.
The meeting, His Excellency the Undersecretary presented the rationale and key objectives behind the decision, emphasizing its aim to generate more job opportunities for Omani nationals and to regulate the labour market in a way that balances the interests of the private sector with the national priority of employment creation. He also shared statistics on the number of companies targeted by the decision and outlined the mechanisms in place to facilitate the replacement of expatriate workers with Omani employees.
His Excellency clarified that the decision falls within the government’s broader efforts to boost national employment and organize the labour market, taking into account the realities of different economic sectors. He affirmed the Ministry’s openness to feedback and constructive suggestions that could enhance the effective implementation of the decision.
The meeting also explored the possibility of introducing the decision in a phased manner, focusing on selected sectors instead of applying it across the board, in order to ensure the desired outcomes are achieved without disrupting private sector performance or economic stability.
Members of the Council raised a number of observations and inquiries reflecting public concerns, particularly regarding the readiness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to comply with the new policy and its potential impact on their operations and sustainability.
The committee heads and members stressed the importance of institutional cooperation between state entities—chiefly the Shura Council and the Ministry of Labour—to ensure that labour market policies are well-studied, responsive to the needs of the economy, and aligned with the aspirations of Omani citizens.
The members highlighted the necessity of launching a comprehensive media campaign to clearly communicate the decision’s objectives and implementation mechanisms to the public. They emphasized that such efforts would help alleviate public concerns and promote a better understanding and acceptance of the initiative among business owners and citizens alike.
The meeting concluded with both sides affirming the need for continued coordination and communication between the Shura Council and the Ministry of Labour to ensure optimal implementation of the decision, taking into consideration its economic, social, and developmental dimensions. The aim is to Laws a well-regulated, sustainable labour market that supports national economic growth and enhances Oman’s competitiveness at the regional and global levels.
The meeting was held by H.E. Ahmed Saeed Al-Sharqi, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Affairs Committee, H.E. Younis Ali Al-Mandhari, head of the Youth and Human Resources Committee, and several esteemed members of both committees.