Oman is set to limit the proportion of expatriates working in the private sector from 39 to 33 per cent, said a report.

The initiative comes as part of an effort to increase the percentage of national manpower in the private sector and to rationalise the recruitment of expatriates, said the Gulf News report.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Bakri, Minister of Manpower outlined the decisions.

He pointed out that intensive efforts were made last year by the government, in close cooperation with representatives of businessmen, the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Oman General Trade Union, to regularise the labour market, update its legislations and provide job opportunities for citizens to enhance their contribution to the development process, meet the needs of the private sectors in terms of manpower, develop work inspection, regularise business relations among production stakeholders and enhance the technical education and vocational training fields.

The labour market regularization comes in response to the demographic changes witnessed by the Omani labour market, he said.

Other measures taken by the ministry to regularise the national manpower and increase its share at the private sector included increasing the minimum salary to RO 325 ($842), amending the pension system of the Public Authority for Social Insurance, standardising the weekly off days and approving not less than three per cent annual increment, said Sheikh Abdullah.

The ministry will complete the electronic linkage with the respective authority to regularise the labour market and issue the expatriates' clearances electronically, he added. - TradeArabia News Service