Muscat – This extension applies to beneficiaries who have completed six months of eligibility and includes a gradual reduction in the allowance. The meeting also covered various societal issues related to the fund that are of concern to citizens and local communities.

The meeting opened with a presentation by Dr. Faisal bin Abdullah Al Farsi, CEO of the Social Protection Fund, who outlined the fund’s objectives, developmental stages, responsibilities, and the criteria for beneficiary eligibility. He also provided an overview of the fund’s organizational structure and the committees operating under it, along with examples of similar initiatives in the Arab region.
Dr. Al Farsi detailed the Social Protection Law and the role of the Job Security Committee, which facilitates coordination between the fund and relevant government entities. He presented statistical data on the distribution of job security allowance beneficiaries across Oman’s wilayats and governorates.
The presentation also addressed the rationale behind the gradual reduction of allowances for laid-off workers and the fund’s plans to align with Oman’s employment policies and enhance governance practices.

Committee members underscored the fund’s critical role in alleviating financial burdens for laid-off workers while highlighting the need for improved governance within the fund. Concerns were raised regarding the decision to reduce allowances, with several members questioning its implications.
The committee emphasized the urgency of facilitating the reemployment of laid-off workers, advocating for their swift reintegration into the workforce to mitigate financial pressures on the fund and support its broader objectives. They also called for increased media outreach and public engagement to foster transparency and awareness of the fund’s operations.

In addition to discussions regarding the Social Protection Fund, the committee reviewed issues referred to it by the Council’s office, including the Ministry of Labour’s 2023 annual report and preparations for the ministerial data programme for the second annual session (2024–2025) of the tenth term. A letter from the Council of Ministers regarding the categorization of service ministries was also addressed.
The meeting, chaired by H.E. Younis bin Ali Al Mandhri, Chairman of the Youth and Human Resources Committee, was part of the second meeting between the first and second sessions of the Council’s tenth term (2023–2027) and was attended by esteemed committee members.