Muscat – A new social protection system will improve the Omani family’s income level, according to Nabhan al Battashi, chairman of the General Federation of Oman.

In an interview with a local radio station, Nabhan Ahmed al Battashi, said “The social protection system will include all categories of issues concerning Omani society, such as divorce, child welfare, workers and job seekers, as well as adults. It will also seek to enhance the Omani family’s income level and raise minimum wages.

Battashi explained that revision of the minimum wage has become a necessity due to high inflation. The current minimum wage of RO325 for (university and non-university graduates) will limit the desire of young Omanis to enter the private sector. “The wage system in all countries of the world is reviewed periodically, according to inflation levels in each country,” he said, pointing out that the wage limit in Oman has not been revised for ten years.

Meanwhile, according to statistics published by the National Centre for Statistics and Information, the average wage of nearly 24 per cent of Omanis insured in the social insurance system is between RO325 to RO400.

“Nearly half of the insured Omanis get less than RO500 as salary, while the average household expenditure has risen to around RO757. The situation calls for immediate solutions to improve the social security of citizens in order to ensure a decent life for them and their families,” he said.