Lack of seriousness among job seekers a major challenge facing Omanisation

A lack of commitment by job-seekers is a major constraint facing the government in its efforts to nationalise employment in the private sector, a government minister said.

"Thirty per cent of job-seekers are not serious," Oman's Manpower Minister, Jumaa Bin Ali Al Jumaa said.

He was speaking during a session of the Majils Aa'Shura on Sunday.

He said most unemployed did not bother to seek work. They do not even turn up for job interviews which the ministry has arranged for them, he said.

"The most important challenges for employing Omanis and realising Omanisation ratios set for various private sector activities include the tendency among Omani workers to abandon their jobs. As many as 48,374 Omani workers have left their jobs in the last four years, this includes 18,247 who resigned," he said.

Some 30,127 national employees have been dismissed for lack of commitment. "Some were released after completion of projects they were recruited to work for by the private sector," he said.

He said a study, carried out in cooperation with the Public Authority for Social Insurance, concluded poor wages and lack of career opportunities prompted most Omanis to give up their private sector jobs.

Family and social commitments also contributed to young Omanis leaving their jobs, he said. Other reasons included failure to adapt to the work environment, having to work long hours and difficulties getting to and from work.

He said the number of job-seekers in the last year was 48,710 and 36,928 were provided with employment, in addition to 8,002 opportunities provided through the Ministry of Manpower's Sanad programme an omanisation programme.

Oman's government has set up a Sanad Fund for self-employment where young Omanis are supported in starting small businesses, by being given soft loans.

Al Jumaa said the number of Omanis annually entering the labour market had decreased from 25,880 to 17,012. The number of unemployed Omanis remains higher due to those who have not been provided with work in previous years and those who have resigned or had their contracts terminated.