Muscat – The Ministry has launched a package of employment initiatives with the aim of Omanising jobs and increasing employment opportunities for Omanis within the transport, logistics, communications, and information technology sectors.
The new initiatives include a series of policies and regulatory measures designed to replace expatriate workers with Omani citizens in key sectors.
H.E. Eng. Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, told Oman News Agency that the Ministry will announce some jobs targeted to be allocated entirely to Omanis in various sectors, beginning from January 2025 until the end of 2027.
This will be implemented after completing the necessary procedures in coordination with the Ministry of Labour.
Key operating policies in the ‘transport and logistics’ and ‘communications and IT’ sectors:
- Omanisation of Professions: Restricting a number of professions in the transport, logistics, communications, and information technology sectors to Omani citizens only.
- Compulsory Employment: Setting a minimum level for the employment of Omanis in proportion to the growth of professions in these sectors.
- Governance of Work Permits: Mandatory work permits for specific jobs, requiring approval from the Ministry’s Labor Market Regulatory Committee.
- Control and Inspection: Implementing supervisory and inspection procedures to ensure companies adhere to Omanisation policies.
- Professional level tests: Expatriate workers will undergo professional tests as a first stage to ensure their competence before obtaining work permits.
- Profession titles: Professiona; titles will be reviewed and updated to suit modern academic and functional specializations in coordination with government agencies and professional associations.
- Wage support: Work is on to adopt an initiative to support wages for Omanis who have recently joined the labor market, in specialized professions.
- Training and qualification: The Ministry will work to implement training and qualification programs for citizen job seekers.
Targeted Omanisation Rates:
Transport and Logistics: The Ministry aims to achieve an Omanisation rate between 20 percent and 50 percent within the transport and logistics sector by 2025.
Communications and IT: A target of 50 percent to 100 percent Omanisation is set for the communications and IT sector by 2026.
Organizational Initiatives:
The Ministry aims to integrate the work system in the field of transportation, logistics, communications and information technology in cooperation with partners from both public and private sectors.
• Integration of Work Systems: Enhancing the logistics system by linking electronic systems such as the ‘Naql Platform’ to other government platforms.
• Local Added Value: Applying local added value requirements to companies who have been awarded projects worth more than RO 3 million, starting in 2025.
• Freelance Employment Initiatives: Creating job opportunities for Omanis by linking licensed activities in the transport, logistics, communications, and information technology sectors to the self-employment registry.
