Muscat: The Shura Council, through its Youth and Human Resources Committee and the Economic and Financial Committee, welcomed Khalid Suleiman Al-Ghamari, Undersecretary for Labour, along with several specialists from the ministry.
The meeting aimed to address various issues presented by the distinguished members of both committees, including the implementation of the Wage Protection System (WPS) and the follow-up actions regarding employees dismissed from Oman Aviation Company and Al-Bashair for Meats.
During the session, the Youth and Human Resources Committee engaged with ministry specialists to discuss the Ministry of Labour's involvement in the ongoing restructuring efforts at Oman Aviation Company and Al-Bashair for Meats.
The committee received updates on the re-employment strategy for those employees not included in the restructuring, focusing on creating job opportunities for them.
Several prominent members of the Youth and Human Resources Committee shared their insights on the restructuring process. Drawing from feedback previously gathered from affected employees, their comments centered on the technical details of the new contracts being proposed.
They emphasized the importance of providing training and qualifications for these employees to facilitate their integration into roles within the Investment Authority.
Collaborative discussions took place between the Youth and Human Resources Committee and the Economic and Financial Committee with the Undersecretary.
The discussions focused on the implications of the Wage Protection System and the initiatives introduced by the Ministry to improve it.
Participants were informed about the reasons for implementing the system, its goals, and the anticipated results.
They also evaluated the ministry's strategy concerning exemptions for specific professions unique to Oman, as well as its plan to mitigate fines—suggesting that penalties be applied to the establishment rather than based on the number of employees experiencing wage delays, as was previously practiced.
The meeting explored the potential for a gradual implementation of the penalty provisions or the establishment of a definitive timeline and grace period.
This approach aims to support the ongoing operations of small and medium enterprises without imposing excessive financial strain, particularly on micro-companies under the Wage Protection System.
Present at the meeting were His Younis Ali Al-Manthari, Chairman of the Youth and Human Resources Committee, and Ahmed Saeed Al-Sharqi, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Committee, along with distinguished members from both committees. They collectively reviewed various proposals designed to enhance the Wage Protection System. Among these proposals was the development of a dedicated online platform for lodging complaints, where each submission would receive a unique tracking number from the beginning, and the formation of an appeals committee authorized to examine decisions, address complaints, and rectify any legal inconsistencies within a maximum timeframe of 15 days.
A proposal was put forward to issue warning notices to institutions that do not pay wages punctually, aiming to avert the imposition of fines on these establishments.
Additionally, the establishment of a 24-hour hotline was considered to handle inquiries and complaints related to the decision, clarify its implementation process, and address grievances, similar to the approach taken by certain other governmental service organizations.
The meeting also focused on the ministry’s responsibility to provide distressed companies with an adequate timeframe to adapt to their circumstances before the decision is enforced.
Furthermore, the ministry of Labour's initiatives to facilitate the construction sector, particularly for small enterprises, were reviewed, acknowledging the challenges faced in implementing the Wage Protection System in this area.
Committee members emphasized the importance of considering small and medium enterprises, recognizing their vulnerability to rapid changes resulting from system-related measures.
They highlighted the need to regulate the labor market in the Sultanate of Oman while being mindful of the existing professions and roles within these enterprises.
