The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) hosted HE Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Al Bakri, Minister of Manpower, HE Sheikh Khalid Bin Omar Al Marhoun, Minister of Civil Service, and HE Mohsin Bin Khamis Al Balushi, Board Chairman of the Public Authority for Manpower Register (PAMR), at the seventh Holy Month of Ramadan evening on Tuesday.

The evening highlighted efforts to provide employment opportunities to nationals. It discussed provision of databases and statistics of workers in the public and private sectors and the statistics on jobseekers. It discussed plans for regulation of the labour market and cooperation between the public and private sectors, especially in employing nationals. It also discussed the PAMR’s goals and roles, especially in setting up a database and providing employment opportunities for job-seekers, as well as existing and expected cooperation between PAMR and the private sector.

Bakri said the labour market has seen remarkable development in several areas. Khalid Al Marhoon said the government has a long-term plan and is continuing employing nationals in the private sector. There are 31 ministries and government departments targeting to employ 15,000 jobseekers.

Khalid said security and military units outside the Civil Service are also working to provide jobs.

The Ministry of Civil Service employed 4,000 citizens during the current year. In 2011, 18,000 citizens were employed, including 14,000 with university degrees.

Mohsin Al Balushi said PAMR is affiliated to the Council of Ministers. It will be a juridical entity and enjoys financial and administrative independence. The PAMR, headquartered in Muscat, may set up branches in other governorates and regions.

The assets, allocations and records of the National Manpower Register at the Ministry of Manpower are transferred to the new authority. The register employees will also be transferred with their same positions. The units of the state administrative apparatus — civilian, military and security — and private sector establishments will provide PAMR data on their employees and on amendments to this data. There will be coordination between PAMR and military and security units on the required data, Al Balushi added.

Al Balushi said electronic link project for “formation of an integrated database for the workforce in all units of the administrative apparatus of the state and private sector enterprises”. PAMR will coordinate with the Information Technology Authority to implement the project.