Muscat – As many as 1,511 applications have been received from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to benefit from an initiative to employ jobseekers through on-the-job training.

The Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED), which launched the initiative, has approved 627 applications and is currently studying 884 others .

ASMED urged interested SMEs to register for the initiative, which seeks to empower young Omani youth to get on-the-job specialist training and enable them for further employment opportunities.

The on-the-job training initiative is supported by the Ministry of Labour, which bears the cost of the training for a year. Under the initiative, a Bachelor’s degree graduate receives RO500 per month, a university diploma holder RO400, and a General Education Diploma holder receives RO300. In the second year, the ministry will bear 50 per cent of the training grant.

Jobseekers registered with the Ministry of Labour are eligible for the training. Institutions can also nominate jobseekers they deem fit to meet their employment criteria and who they consider would improve their operations and activities.