“Oman and Zanzibar Strengthen Bilateral Ties: Focus on Economic, Cultural, and Health Cooperation”
Recently, 25 male and female union members participated in the training program on trade union work for the administrative bodies of labor unions in private sector facilities in Muscat Governorate in 2023, conducted by the General Federation of Oman Workers.
The program aimed to train the members of the administrative bodies of labor unions, familiarize them with the essential skills necessary for trade union work, and prepare qualified union personnel to assume their responsibilities and effectively deal with various issues that may arise in the work environment.
Ahmed bin Mubarak Al-Jahdhami, the General Supervisor of the Trade Union Training Program, inaugurated the program, stating that trade union work plays a crucial role in building a fair work environment that contributes to achieving social and economic growth in line with Oman Vision 2040. Since its establishment, the General Federation of Oman Workers has attached special importance to the implementation of training programs for the administrative bodies of unions and labor federations, as well as employees in private sector institutions, university students, and college graduates entering the labor market. This is considered a fundamental pillar for the development of the trade union movement at the national level. These training programs contribute to equipping them with the necessary skills to effectively practice trade union work, ensuring the protection of the interests of all workers in the Sultanate, defending their rights as stipulated by law, improving their working conditions and situations, and enhancing their productivity.
Ahmed Al-Jahdhami further added in his speech that the trade union training program is one of the important training programs for the members of union administrative bodies and labor federations, as it equips them with the necessary skills to effectively fulfill their roles and develop their capabilities to deal with the challenges of the global economy and effectively address the changes and developments in the work field. The training program includes six main axes and eighteen interactive sessions.
The program covered various topics, including organization and labor rights, peaceful strikes, the necessity of establishing communication channels between unions and facility management to achieve effective trade union communication, and enabling participants in the basics of dialogue and collective bargaining. It also highlighted the axis of occupational health and safety in the work environment.
The trainer, Muath bin Abdullah Al-Saadi, stated that the General Federation exerts diligent efforts in training the administrative bodies of labor unions, ensuring the inclusion of all unions in private sector facilities in various geographical locations and economic sectors without exception.
Muath Al-Saadi expressed his gratitude to the General Federation of Oman Workers for its continuous support and commitment to implementing the program, as well as working on improving the covered topics to align with the changes that occur in labor and work.
Aatika bint Maytham Al-Ajmi, the Secretary-General of the Workers’ Union of Tarkett Company (participating in the program), expressed her delight in participating in the program, which included many collective practical activities that contribute to solidifying knowledge. She pledged to transfer the knowledge and skills she acquired to her colleagues in the administrative body of the labor union and the employees in the company, aiming to enhance their efficiency and provide them with various sciences and skills that enable them to perform their trade union work with competence and professionalism. Additionally, she aimed to provide them with extensive information about trade union work and equip them with high capabilities to activate dialogue and negotiation.
Brief Introduction to the General Federation of Oman Workers:
Amendments to the Labor Law were approved by the Royal Decree No. 74/2006 on July 8, 2006, allowing the formation of labor unions and establishing the “General Federation of Oman Workers” to represent the workers of the Sultanate before official authorities and in local, regional, and international forums.
Following the issuance of Royal Decree No. 74/2006, ministerial decisions were issued to regulate the formation, operation, and registration of labor unions, labor federations, and the General Federation of Oman Workers, with the latest being Ministerial Decision No. 500/2018.
On February 15, 2010, the General Federation of Oman Workers held its founding conference with the participation of 88 representatives from labor unions in the Sultanate, totaling 45 labor unions that were registered for membership at that conference. The founding system was approved, and a board of directors consisting of 11 members was elected, in addition to the election of the financial control committee for the period of 2010-2014.
On February 16, 2014, the first conference of the General Federation was held, where the basic system was approved, and members of the board of directors, consisting of 11 members, were elected for the term 2014-2018. Five members were also elected for the membership of the financial control committee for the same period.
On March 4, 2019, the second conference of the General Federation was held with the participation of 301 members representing the General Assembly of the General Federation from labor unions and labor federations, totaling 148 labor unions. The president of the board of directors was elected among two candidates, in addition to electing 10 members of the board of directors out of 15 candidates.
These conferences were distinguished by their notable local, regional, and international participation. They were conducted with transparency under the supervision of the International Labour Organization and the Arab Labour Organization, along with local observers and the presence of several Arab, regional, and international labor organizations and federations.
The General Federation of Oman Workers seeks to protect the interests of all workers in the Sultanate, defend their rights as stipulated by law, improve their working conditions and situations, enhance workers’ productivity, strengthen work values, and promote social dialogue between the three parties of production.
Several specialized committees have been formed to support the work of the Federation in various activities and related issues.
The General Federation of Oman Workers participates in various committees and councils related to labor issues in the Sultanate, in addition to committees consisting of the three parties of production (government, workers, and employers).
