Smart form to speed up issue of labour cards

The Ministry of Manpower will apply a new electronic system for issuing labour cards to expatriates working in the private sector from August 17, a top ministry official said here yesterday.

The new system, which will involve the use of a smart-form, will help expedite processing applications for labour cards and will be operated by a local company.

The move is also viewed as a step forward in the drive to implement e-government.

Sayyid Hamad bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Undersecretary for Labour, told the Oman News Agency (ONA) that the new electronic system was designed to produce cards that carry the required data and are difficult to tamper with or get misused.

"It will provide safety and high quality features in designing labour cards."

He said arrangements were made to install the system and train the employees of the ministry on its operation.

The private offices that conduct clerical and typing work and are run by the Omanis would be linked with the system.

He said the ministry will continue to sell the present forms for a period of 30 to 45 days from the date of the commencement of the new system until it becomes fully operational and training of workers, of companies and private offices which use the system is completed.

The undersecretary appreciated the assistance of the government bodies which helped in introducing the new system and which included the Finance Ministry and Royal Oman Police.