Muscat – The Ministry of Labour (MoL) on Tuesday signed a cooperation programme with Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) to work towards achieving policies and plans that would facilitate value-added investments in Oman.

The agreement, inked by H E Dr Mahad Said Ba’owain, Minister of Labour, and H E Dr Ali Masoud al Sunaidi, Chairman of OPAZ, is expected to create training and employment opportunities for national workforce and drive Omanisation within special economic zones, free zones, and economic zones.

The programme encourages investment projects to contribute to the preparation of highly trained national cadres and enable them to acquire the skills and experience required to fill available vacancies. ‘This will ensure the continuity of national workforce employment, the efficiency of services, and facilitating procedures in those zones,’ stated a press release.

The programme also aims to increase employment opportunities for Omanis in existing projects under the supervision of the authority by replacing expat workforce by Omanis in leadership and supervisory roles, creating training opportunities for jobseekers and finding alternative solutions for laid-off workers.

“This programme comes within the framework of cooperation with the authority to create jobs and training opportunities for jobseekers in the areas within the special economic zones and free zones,” said Dr Saif al Busaidi, Director General of the General Directorate of Labour in the Muscat governorate.

“This will be done by encouraging investment projects to contribute to the recruitment and training of the national workforce,” he added.

Dr Said al Tuirshi, General Manager of Investment Development in OPAZ, pointed out that there will be an annual cooperation programme to create quality jobs opportunities in the active project in the special economic zones and free zones.