Latest news with #MahadbinSaeedbinAliBaowain
Muscat Daily
07-05-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Ejada system boosts govt efficiency
Muscat – Ejada (Excellence) system has improved government performance, reducing employee resignations by 72% and increasing strategic partnerships by 233%, officials said on Tuesday. The updates were shared at a ceremony marking institutional excellence for 2024, held under the patronage of H E Dr Mahad bin Saeed bin Ali Baowain, Minister of Labour. The system has also strengthened leadership capabilities, with 45% of supervisory roles now qualified or in the process of qualification under the 'second line' leadership strategy. In total, 64% of government employees, or 111,475 individuals, have benefited from competency development programmes. Inter-agency collaboration has grown sharply, with partnerships and cooperation agreements rising to 2,579, while the value of funds disbursed to small and medium enterprises increased by 111% to over RO152mn. The system has also improved operational efficiency, with 4,863 business procedures streamlined, while innovation funding increased by 153% to more than RO45mn. Complaint handling has improved, with the average index reaching 94%, while environmental and community engagement initiatives surged by 247% and 642%, respectively.
Muscat Daily
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Muscat Daily
OHRC launches guide to boost legal compliance in Oman
Muscat – Oman Human Rights Commission (OHRC) launched a multilingual guide outlining the rights of private sector workers on Sunday in a move aimed at boosting legal awareness and promoting workplace justice. Released under the patronage of H E Dr Mahad bin Saeed bin Ali Baowain, Minister of Labour, the guide is available in six languages – Arabic, English, Urdu, Hindi, Bangla and Tagalog – to ensure accessibility across Oman's diverse expatriate workforce. The publication is part of wider efforts to enhance Oman's human rights framework and reaffirm its commitment to international labour conventions. It seeks to build a work environment grounded in equality, legal compliance and respect for human dignity. Dr Rashid bin Hamad al Balushi, Chairman of OHRC, said the guide addresses the growing need for clarity on rights and obligations under the Omani Labour Law. 'This guide provides a detailed explanation of key worker rights, including the requirement for a written employment contract, a copy of which must be given to the employee,' Balushi said. 'It also affirms the prohibition on employers from retaining workers' passports or personal documents without written consent, outlaws all forms of forced or compulsory labour, and guarantees equality among workers regardless of gender, language, religion, race or social status.' The guide outlines entitlements such as weekly rest, annual and sick leave, overtime pay, end-of-service benefits and safety regulations. It includes provisions related to first aid, medical care, accommodation, transportation and meals where applicable. Workers are entitled to file complaints and grievances through established legal channels, the guide notes. It includes official contact points for both employees and employers seeking support or clarification.
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.
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.
