Muscat – The Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED) has launched its second on-the-job training initiative for nationals.

A statement issued by ASMED said, ‘The authority launched the initiative for nationals and urges owners of SMEs to register for the on-the-job training programme.

‘The initiative aims to employ jobseekers by enhancing their competitive capabilities in accordance with specific requirements. It targets all owners of SMEs and jobseekers registered with the Ministry of Labour and those nominated by SMEs which they deem fit for training.’

The Ministry of Labour will bear the cost of the monthly training. In the first year, 100 per cent of the grant will be paid. A Bachelor’s degree graduate will receive RO500 per month, a diploma graduate RO400 per month, and General Education Diploma graduate RO300 per month. In the second year, 50 per cent of the training cost will be paid by the ministry.

ASMED called on SMEs to register for the initiative through the following link: https://eqp.datamining.om/estebyanar/ilixyhkiz20220404172150

The total number of Omanis employed during the first quarter of this year was 10,017. Of these, 4,126 were employed in the government sector and 5,891 in the private sector. ‘With this, 29 per cent of the total jobs targeted in 2022 has been achieved,’ MoL stated.

According to figures released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information, the total number of SMEs registered with ASMED till the end of March 2022 was 73,741, an increase of 2.22 per cent compared to the same period of 2021.