Muscat – Omani technology and innovation startups can tap government-backed wage support for 150 jobs, after 50 positions were taken up under an incentive aimed at easing hiring costs and creating sustainable employment for nationals.

The Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Riyada) said 50 of the 200 jobs allocated in the first phase of the Hafiz employment incentive have so far been utilised.

Run under the Promising Omani Startups Programme in cooperation with, and funded by, the Ministry of Labour, the initiative supports companies hiring new Omani jobseekers through on-the-job training contracts linked to employment.

Under the scheme, wage support is provided for 24 months at RO500 a month for employees with a university qualification, RO400 for university diploma holders and RO300 for those with a General Education Diploma or lower qualification. The startup must sustain the employee’s job after the support period ends.

The incentive is open to innovation- and technology-based companies holding a Riyada Card. It is intended to reduce salary costs during their early growth phase while building Omani expertise in technology and innovation.

Candidates must be registered as jobseekers with the Ministry of Labour, not older than 38 and have no more than three years of cumulative work experience. They must not have previously worked for the same company or undergone government-funded training.

Once approved, startups must register training contracts within 60 days. The employee should be registered with the Social Protection Fund during training, with the company required to meet the applicable contributions. At the end of the programme, the training contract must be converted into an indefinite employment contract at the same salary or higher.

Riyada said the scheme is designed to help startups stabilise and grow while accelerating sustainable Omanisation in emerging sectors.