Transport, IT sector to be Omanised; MTCIT issues new list

During the years 2025 to 2027: Omanisation of 22 professions in the transportation, communications and information technology sector

Muscat: Within the framework of achieving the initiatives and policies of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology’s plan to employ the national workforce in the ministry’s sectors, which the ministry announced last July, the first package of professions was Omanised by issuing Ministerial Resolution No. 501/2024 of the Ministry of Labor; where 22 professions will be Omanized during 2025 to 2027.

Omanised professions include 8 professions in the communications and information technology sector; including: 3 professions that will be Omanized by January 2025, which are: (Systems Analyst/General, Information Systems Network Specialist, Computer Maintenance Technician); and in 2026, 3 other professions will be Omanised, which are: (Computer Programmer, Electronic Computer Engineer, Electronic Computer Operator), while two professions will be Omanised in 2027, which are: Website Designer, Operations Analyst.
In the transportation and logistics sector, the decision included the Omanisation of 14 professions, two of which will be Omanised by January 2025, which are Marine Controller and Ship Traffic Controller; While the following professions will be Omanised starting from today, September 2, 2024, and they include: commercial broker, forklift driver, marketing specialist, ship tying and securing worker, labor supervisor, loading and unloading labor supervisor, quality supervisor, new vehicle seller, quality officer, quality control manager, goods arranger, travel agent.

The impact of implementing the circular:

The circular will contribute to accelerating the pace of replacement and Omanization in the sectors supervised by the Ministry; and in creating quality job opportunities for Omani youth; in addition to its role in contributing to developing the local economy and benefiting from local competencies in Omanizing the various sectors supervised by the Ministry.

The Omanisation Initiative:

The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology had announced that it would implement, in coordination with the Ministry of Labor, a number of initiatives that would enhance job opportunities, employment governance, and the adoption of necessary policies. The Ministry seeks to Omanize professional jobs for citizens in the two sectors during the coming years and until 2040 by implementing a number of different policies and initiatives, namely employment policies in the transport and logistics sectors, and communications and information technology. The Ministry decided to set a number of policies, the most important of which is the Omanization of some professions by limiting a number of professions in the two sectors, which contributes to strengthening the local skilled workforce and mandatory employment by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology setting a minimum limit for the employment of Omanis in line with the growth of professions related to the two sectors and the governance of work permits, supervision, inspection, professional level tests, professional titles, wage support, training and qualification.

Target percentage:

Through the Omanization of qualitative jobs initiative, the ministry aims to replace the most expatriate-filled jobs in the transport and logistics, communications and information technology sectors with qualified Omani cadres. The targeted Omanization rates in the transport and logistics sector range between 20% and 50% as a first stage starting in 2025. The rates will then be raised annually until reaching 100% Omanization. The targeted jobs are in the maritime, air and land transport sectors, and include all administrative and specialized categories and support jobs. These professions have been identified based on analyzing the data of their workers. As for the communications and information technology sector, this initiative aims to replace Omanis in qualitative jobs in the field, as the targeted Omanization rates in this sector range between 50% and 100% by 2026.