4 February 2025

The forum (Towards a More Sustainable Social Dialogue), held by the General Federation of Oman Workers (GFOW), in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) on 3-4 February 2025, concluded with a set of findings and recommendations.

Findings:

1. Social dialogue is a key tool for promoting decent work and social partnership. It balances the interests of the tripartite partners (government, employers, and workers), enhances labour market competitiveness, drives economic growth, and supports sustainable development by shaping economic and social policies. This positively impacts decent work opportunities and social stability.

2. Social dialogue encourages investment and an attractive work environment through clear labour legislation, business regulations, and investment incentives. It also enhances the state’s reputation and strengthens its global position.

3. Labour relations legislation in Oman takes a gradual approach to institutionalising social dialogue at both bipartite and tripartite levels. It starts with joint representative bodies for workers and employers, progresses through workers’ committees and trade unions, and culminates in the Joint Dialogue Committee.

4. Challenges in activating social dialogue include the lack of a dedicated office, specialised staff, and governance mechanisms to oversee and follow up on the committee’s decisions and recommendations. Efforts are ongoing to address these gaps.

5. The new Labour Law establishes a Joint Dialogue Committee at the national level and committees to resolve collective labour disputes, including the Arbitration Committee, the Committee for Settling Disputes, and the Committee for Reviewing Worker Reductions for Economic Reasons. However, legislative and procedural challenges remain, such as improving mechanisms for referring disputes to competent courts.

6. While there are efforts to enhance community participation in shaping public and economic policies, the absence of a national framework for fair representation and clear mechanisms limits its effectiveness.

Recommendations:

1. Establish a dedicated office for the Joint Dialogue Committee, supported by specialised staff, sufficient resources, and a governance system to oversee its operations, implementation, and follow-up. This will enhance dialogue, competitiveness, and labour relations.

2. Expand the Joint Dialogue Committee’s mandate to shape labour market policies that promote sustainable development, competitiveness, and productivity.

3. Broaden representation in the Joint Dialogue Committee for issues requiring wider participation to improve outcomes and adopt recommendations effectively.

4. Support dialogue committees to adopt long-term solutions for public and economic policy issues, ensuring comprehensive outcomes.

5. Identify and address legislative, procedural, and substantive challenges in the committees established under the new Labour Law, while collaborating with stakeholders to enhance committee effectiveness and develop the capacities of members and staff.

6. Develop a national framework to define criteria and mechanisms for social participation in public and economic policies, aligning with Oman Vision 2040 and development plans.

7. Ratify international labour conventions that promote social dialogue, particularly Conventions No. 87, 98, 144, and 154.

8. Study leading international practices in social dialogue to implement best practices in Oman.