Latest news with #HEBaowain
Muscat Daily
25-03-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Plan to raise minimum wage in Oman to RO400 under review
Muscat – The government is actively considering a proposal to increase the minimum wage for Omanis to RO400, according to H E Dr Mahad Said Baowain, Minister of Labour. In an interview with a local news channel, the minister outlined that while RO400 is the government's preferred figure, the decision is still under review. 'As a government, we tend to favour setting the minimum wage at RO 400. However, this remains a proposal subject to further evaluation,' H E Baowain said. He added that the proposal will undergo thorough assessment by the concerned authorities, Council of Ministers and all relevant stakeholders before any final decision is made. H E Baowain explained that the proposed wage range of RO360 to RO400 was developed with inputs from a technical team of National Employment Programme and Directorate General of Planning and Labour Market Policies. 'We have sent an initial draft to the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers. The hike in minimum wage depends on the average of monthly wages and annual inflation rate, and it may range between RO360 and RO 400,' he added. The current minimum wage for Omanis stands at RO325, regardless of qualifications. H E Baowain stressed the fact that the proposed increase is based on economic factors. 'Our goal is not to reduce wages. This is purely an economic matter based on supply and demand,' he said. On job creation, he said the ministry aims to employ 45,000 people, including 24,000 in the private sector, 10,000 in the public sector and 11,000 through training linked to employment this year. He added that those who have been laid off would be given priority for these opportunities.
Muscat Daily
22-03-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Ejada enhances public sector performance: H E Baowain
Muscat – Ejada system has achieved more than 60% of its objectives, obtaining a marked progress in enhancing public sector performance, H E Dr Mahad bin Saeed bin Ali Baowain, Minister of Labour, said. Speaking at the third session of the Communication Dialogue last week, organised by the Government Communication Centre, H E Baowain highlighted the system's role in improving efficiency and accountability in government agencies. 'The Ejada system has seen significant progress. Individual Excellence has been implemented in 67 government agencies, enabling performance evaluation based on criteria such as operational speed, leadership, and job satisfaction.' The session brought together government officials, stakeholders, and members of the public to discuss labour and employment policies. H E Baowain also outlined ongoing efforts to enhance employment opportunities in the country. Launched in 2023, Ejada has been designed to measure institutional performance in government units. It provides a structured framework for assessing progress, improving service quality, and fostering innovation. The system also aims to promote a culture of efficiency and reward outstanding performance in public administration. H E Baowain informed that the draft Civil Service Law is in the legislative process and is expected to be adopted soon.
Muscat Daily
18-03-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
MoL unveils AI-driven initiative to boost employment in Oman
Plans to create 45,000 new jobs in 2025 Muscat – Ministry of Labour (MoL) has introduced a waiting list initiative, a smart system aimed at streamlining job opportunities as part of broader employment policy reforms. Officials also announced completion of a review of the minimum wage structure. At its annual conference on Monday, MoL unveiled plans to create 45,000 job opportunities in 2025. This includes 11,000 training and qualification placements, 10,000 government sector jobs and 24,000 positions in private enterprises. H E Mahad bin Saeed Baowain, Minister of Labour, said the ministry is focused on employment-linked training programmes, wage support and on-the-job training. 'These efforts will cater to jobseekers across multiple sectors, including small and medium enterprises, large companies, startups, freelance work and temporary government contracts,' he said. The ministry has also launched the pilot phase of a project called 'Smart Management' in collaboration with the private sector to enhance digital governance in human resource management. The project integrates artificial intelligence-driven applications and a digital knowledge base to improve workforce planning. According to H E Baowain, companies participating in the training-linked employment programme have achieved a compliance rate of over 82%. The ministry surpassed its 2024 employment target of 35,000, successfully placing 36,615 workers, achieving 104% of its goal. By the end of 2024, 17,215 individuals, including 11,758 men, had benefited from the government's job security programme. As part of ongoing digital transformation efforts, MoL has introduced a platform to monitor termination requests. In 2024, termination requests for Omani workers fell significantly. Of 5,402 requests from private sector companies, only 87 were approved through labour negotiations and economic committees, allowing 4,892 Omani employees to retain their jobs. The ministry has also rolled out a system called 'Individual Excellence' across 67 government entities, incorporating 45 new features to enhance work efficiency, leadership performance and job satisfaction. Government agencies will be assessed on their operational speed and leadership effectiveness. H E Baowain informed that the number of expatriates working in the private sector surpasses 2mn, while Omanis in the sector is around 265,000. As part of workforce localisation efforts, 2,800 Omanis have been placed in leadership and mid-management roles in industrial cities in collaboration with Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn). The National Employment Programme continues to align educational programmes with labour market needs, and work is underway to establish specialised companies to help job seekers enter emerging sectors, including information technology and industrial maintenance services. To support entrepreneurship, MoL has introduced a freelance work package offering financing, training, social protection and consulting services. The initiative aims to empower Omani entrepreneurs and strengthen the gig economy.
Zawya
05-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: Over 135,000 companies exist only on paper
Muscat – H E Dr Mahad bin Saeed bin Ali Baowain, Minister of Labour, revealed that over 135,000 registered companies in Oman exist only as commercial records without any business activity. Speaking to Oman TV, he noted that out of more than 400,000 registered firms in the sultanate, only about 265,000 have active employees and operations. Addressing employment challenges, H E Baowain highlighted the Ministry of Labour's efforts between 2021 and 2023 to retain jobs for Omani nationals. Through negotiations with companies, the ministry successfully preserved 50,000 to 60,000 jobs despite economic fluctuations. On demand for public sector jobs, the minister said the government receives 12,000 to 16,000 applications annually from jobseekers wanting employment in the public sector. This, he remarked, reflects the pressure on authorities to create more opportunities to meet aspirations of the national workforce. H E Baowain pointed to a disconnect between education outcomes and labour market requirements as a key challenge. To bridge this gap, the ministry is focusing on specialised training programmes and job replacement initiatives to align skills with market demands. He also touched on the impact of expatriates in low-skilled jobs, which continues to affect labour market dynamics. Efforts are underway to address these issues and create a more balanced workforce. Regarding wage transparency, the minister highlighted the mandatory implementation of the Wage Protection System, which became compulsory mid-2023. The system ensures private sector salaries are transferred through regulated channels. Non-compliance has already led to fines, and stricter penalties will soon be enforced based on the number of employees whose wages are not processed through the system. H E Baowain concluded by emphasising the ministry's commitment to labour market reforms aimed at promoting job security for Omanis, improving transparency and creating a resilient employment environment. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Muscat Daily
04-02-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Over 135,000 firms in Oman exist only on paper: Labour Minister
Muscat – H E Dr Mahad bin Saeed bin Ali Baowain, Minister of Labour, revealed that over 135,000 registered companies in Oman exist only as commercial records without any business activity. Speaking to Oman TV, he noted that out of more than 400,000 registered firms in the sultanate, only about 265,000 have active employees and operations. Addressing employment challenges, H E Baowain highlighted the Ministry of Labour's efforts between 2021 and 2023 to retain jobs for Omani nationals. Through negotiations with companies, the ministry successfully preserved 50,000 to 60,000 jobs despite economic fluctuations. On demand for public sector jobs, the minister said the government receives 12,000 to 16,000 applications annually from jobseekers wanting employment in the public sector. This, he remarked, reflects the pressure on authorities to create more opportunities to meet aspirations of the national workforce. H E Baowain pointed to a disconnect between education outcomes and labour market requirements as a key challenge. To bridge this gap, the ministry is focusing on specialised training programmes and job replacement initiatives to align skills with market demands. He also touched on the impact of expatriates in low-skilled jobs, which continues to affect labour market dynamics. Efforts are underway to address these issues and create a more balanced workforce. Regarding wage transparency, the minister highlighted the mandatory implementation of the Wage Protection System, which became compulsory mid-2023. The system ensures private sector salaries are transferred through regulated channels. Non-compliance has already led to fines, and stricter penalties will soon be enforced based on the number of employees whose wages are not processed through the system. H E Baowain concluded by emphasising the ministry's commitment to labour market reforms aimed at promoting job security for Omanis, improving transparency and creating a resilient employment environment.
