Muscat – Social Protection Fund (SPF) announced on Wednesday that the sultanate’s maternity leave insurance programme will commence on July 19. The programme will benefit 225,981 individuals, including 160,886 Omanis.

The announcement was made during a media briefing attended by representatives of Unicef, World Health Organization (WHO), International Labour Organization, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Social Development.

The insurance programme is a significant step towards enhancing social welfare and supporting mothers in the sultanate. It aims to protect the rights of working women and ensure their well-being during maternity. International recommendations on maternity protection have been incorporated into the Social Protection Law.

Key aspects of the insurance programme include safeguarding working women and their children from health risks associated with maternity; providing financial support during maternity, paternity and care leaves; and ensuring economic security during these periods.

Employers are required to contribute 1% of the employee’s basic daily wage to the maternity leave fund.

The insurance covers all Omanis employed across various sectors, including those under temporary and training contracts, as well as retired workers. It also covers non-Omani workers within the state’s administrative units and the private sector.

The benefits comprise maternity leave allowance, paternity leave allowance and childcare leave, besides maternity leave allowance for those no longer in service but eligible for job security allowance.

The media briefing featured eight working papers addressing different aspects of maternity protection and support mechanisms. These papers covered topics such as the social protection system, sustainable population development, family welfare, WHO recommendations on postpartum care, and the crucial role of early life stages in child development.

UN praise for Oman

The United Nations, represented by Uncief, UNFPA and WHO, praised Oman for its new maternity leave insurance programme.

“I commend Oman for its commitment to the well-being of Omani and non-Omani workers, an achievement that places it at the forefront of the region in its inclusiveness and investments,” said Sumaira Chowdhury, Unicef Representative in Oman.

The UNFPA GCC office highlighted the fact that ‘reproductive health is the basis for equal economic and social participation, and prioritising reproductive health, including maternity and paternity leave, can improve productivity, reduce absenteeism, and enhance the economic empowerment of women and society’.

Dr Jean Jabbour, WHO Representative in Oman, stressed the importance of a mother’s presence in the early months of a child’s life. He said, “This early period is crucial in shaping the child’s health, emotional and social future. Paid maternity leave ensures mothers have enough time to rest and care for their newborns, and is linked to higher rates of breastfeeding initiation and continuation.”