Muscat: The Shura Council continued, for the second consecutive day, its discussion of the statement by Dr. Mahad Said Ba'owain, the Minister of Labour, concerning various labor market topics, employment stability, and the development of the vocational training system. This occurred during the eighth ordinary session of the third ordinary convening (2025/2026).
According to Oman News Agency, the Council's members underscored the necessity of shifting from immediate remedies to adopting proactive policies rooted in strategic planning for labor market issues. These policies should accommodate economic and technological shifts, ensuring sustainable job opportunities for citizens, particularly in the private sector, which is expected to absorb the majority of the national workforce. The interventions also highlighted the importance of prioritizing employment opportunities for social security beneficiaries and individuals with limited income.
Council members noted that vocational training is a strategic pathway to address employment challenges, especially given the national focus on enhancing private sector job opportunities. They explained that vocational training enrollment numbers remain below the required level compared to the labor market's demands, particularly in technical, technological, and craft sectors.
During the session, discussions also addressed the effectiveness of the Ministry of Labor's programs in assimilating job seekers and mitigating the effects of job layoffs. Calls were made to develop these programs to keep pace with rapid labor market changes, ensuring sustainable economic and social impacts.
The necessity of aligning higher education outputs with labor market demands was stressed, emphasizing coordination between the Ministry of Labor, educational institutions, and relevant bodies. This alignment aims to match educational outputs with current and future labor market needs, establish clear mechanisms for updating specializations and academic programs, and highlight the Ministry's role in anticipating future jobs and preparing future generations.
The session was chaired by Khalid Hilal Al Maawali, Chairman of the Shura Council.