Over 1,600 Omanis hired in transport, IT sectors in Q1
MUSCAT: The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) has announced the employment of 1,450 Omanis in the transport and logistics sector and 236 in the information technology sector during the first quarter of 2025. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to localise jobs and reduce dependence on expatriate labour across key economic sectors.
By the end of 2025, the Ministry aims to create 4,950 job opportunities for Omanis in the transport and logistics sector and 430 in the IT sector. A series of regulations and initiatives have been launched to support this goal, including binding Omanisation rates and wage support mechanisms.
In the transport and logistics sector, the Ministry achieved a 21% Omanisation rate during Q1, with a target of reaching 10% Omanisation in technical and leadership positions by year-end. Similarly, in the IT sector, the Ministry is aiming for a 63% overall Omanisation rate and 41% in specialised and leadership roles.
To support these objectives, the Ministry has introduced various measures, including:
Wage Support Initiatives: Financial support for Omani employees in select IT professions and projects.
Freelance Opportunities: Promotion of income-generating freelance work in IT through structured programs and agreements, such as the one signed with Awasr Company to create 58 freelance roles.
Training & Upskilling: More than 990 Omanis have benefited from the Makeen (National Initiative for Digital Competencies) programme during Q1, aimed at equipping youth with advanced digital skills.
On-the-Job Training: Around 50 Omanis received training in semiconductor projects, while 210 are currently undergoing training for future roles in transport and logistics.
Specialised Driver Training: In collaboration with the Oman Logistics Association, 52 Omanis were trained as locomotive and trailer drivers.
The Ministry is also working closely with the Ministry of Labour to enforce Omanisation across critical roles in the maritime sector, including captains, chief engineers, and navigational officers. New measures require approvals from the Labor Market Regulatory Committee before work permits for these positions can be issued.
Additional efforts include the enforcement of a 20% Omanisation rate in supervisory roles within last-mile delivery services and mandatory localisation targets for executive and consultancy roles in contracted firms.
Together, these integrated strategies reflect the government's commitment to empowering the Omani workforce and aligning employment policies with Oman Vision 2040's objectives of economic diversification and sustainable job creation. —ONA
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