Panel on demands of workers formed

MUSCAT: A committee to address the demands of workers had been formed by the Ministry of Manpower (MoM), it said in a ministerial decree.

The ministerial decision said workers employed at airports, ports, oil companies and companies providing public services could now address their problems to the Ministry of Manpower. “The committee will address their complaints within five days of being received,” the ministry said.

It will be headed by the undersecretary of the Ministry of Manpower, with members including the Director General of Employee Welfare (Committee Deputy), the Deputy Head of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board of Directors, the Deputy Head of the General Federation of Oman Trade Union and representatives of mass employee disputes.

Humood Al Yahyai, a Majlis Al Shura member and head of the Service and Social Development Committee, welcomed the move saying such a committee was urgently needed.

“The committee will target worker problems and issues before they become too big,” said Al Yahyai. He added that involving the Director General of Employee Welfare was a welcome move.

“I believe that if this committee was formed earlier, many of these issues could have been avoided,” said Al Yahyai.

This comes at a time when the ministry is studying the reasons behind some workers’ resentment in some key areas, which stems from a large number of companies contemplating laying off employees, in a bid to save costs in the wake of international crude prices falling.