MUSCAT — Oman’s Ministry of Labour said on Wednesday that three labour complaints related to the termination of employees at telecoms firm Ooredoo are currently before the courts, following disputes over the end of service arrangements.
Labour Minister His Excellency Prof. Mahad bin Saeed Baawain said employment contracts cannot be terminated unilaterally, stressing that labour relations are contractual agreements between two parties.
Speaking at a media briefing organised by the Ministry of Labour, Baawain said employees who accepted the termination offer ended their contractual relationship and received the agreed compensation packages. Those who rejected the offer, he said, were required by the ministry to be retained in their jobs.
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“If a company insists on termination without the employee’s consent, the ministry takes legal action, including imposing penalties and referring the matter to the courts,” Baawain said, adding that labour care mechanisms are available to review each case individually.
Khalid bin Salem Al Ghamari, Undersecretary for Labour at the ministry, said authorities had coordinated closely with the company and the labour union, in communication with the General Federation of Workers of the Sultanate of Oman, before presenting options to affected employees.
Khalid bin Salem Al Ghamari, Undersecretary for Labour at the ministry, said authorities coordinated closely with the company and labour representatives, including the General Federation of Workers of the Sultanate of Oman, before presenting options to affected employees.
Al Ghamari said the consultation process spanned sometime, during which employees were informed of their right to either accept or reject the termination offer.
“Compensation equivalent to 24 months’ salary was offered to 125 employees whose services were terminated, and the majority accepted the offer, with only a small number declining,” he said.
He added that 14 employees were reinstated after rejecting the offer, while three cases are currently under judicial review. The remaining employees accepted the compensation package, received payments equivalent to 24 months’ salary, and signed voluntary resignation agreements in line with approved legal procedures.
The ministry said it would continue to monitor the case to ensure compliance with labour laws and the protection of workers’ rights.
