Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman has emerged as one of the top Arab nations in the ITUC Global Rights Index, which is released by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
Oman's rating improved from Level 4 to Level 3, representing a significant advancement in trade union rights and freedoms. This progress demonstrates the General Federation of Oman Workers' (GFOW) consistent efforts at both the national and international levels.
According to the Index, the higher rating is the result of a number of modifications to labor rules and regulatory systems. These reforms include improved access to justice for employees, as well as the development of a more productive tripartite discussion between government, employers, and worker representatives. This has been accomplished through the establishment of a joint dialogue group with delegates from all three parties, responsible with creating, revising, and amending labour rules and policies.
The reforms implemented in recent years have helped to encourage productive discussion on labour and employment concerns, as well as improve processes for settling labor conflicts.
The ITUC Global Rights Index is an yearly global evaluation of trade union rights and human rights at work. The ITUC publishes it as part of the International Labour Conference (ILC), which is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland. The Index ranks countries on a scale of 1 (best) to 5+ (worst), based on 97 indicators derived from International Labour Organization (ILO) standards. These include limitations on collective bargaining, the right to strike, freedom of association, trade union membership, violence against trade unionists, and restrictions on freedom of expression.
