;

No Intention to Apply Four-Day Workweek in Oman

  • Publish date: Tuesday، 28 February 2023
No Intention to Apply Four-Day Workweek in Oman

His Excellency Dr Mahad bin Said bin Ali Ba’owain, Minister of Labour, has clarified that there is “no intention” to adopt a four-day workweek in Oman during a Majlis A’Shura meeting on Monday.

Replying to a Majlis A’Shura member’s question on whether the official working days would be reduced to four, H E Dr Ba’owain said, “There is currently no intention to expand or increase the number of official holidays.”

“Various studies have been conducted on the prospect of raising the minimum wage. We carried out a study in which inflation and other factors were taken into account. It has been submitted to the Council of Ministers and we are awaiting a decision.” said H E Dr Ba'owain when asked if about raising the minimum wage to RO500 with government support, and to provide salaries to jobseekers until they are employed, the minister replied,

The minister informed that in addition to the Draft Labour Law referred to the Council of Ministers, the Public Service Law will “soon” be approved. “Our numbers are transparent and always published, and we accept criticism, opinions and cooperation,” he said, referring to the data on jobseekers and employment.

H E Dr Ba’owain stated “The total number of employees in the civil service sector has reached 168,985, with Omanisation rate of 88.6 per cent.” 

He added that the number of employees in commercial businesses was 1,722,697 in 2022, of which 340,619 were expats.