ILO chief praises Oman’s labour reforms, hails model for regional modernization

During meetings with senior Omani leaders, Houngbo received the Sultan of Oman’s Medal, acknowledging the strong partnership between Oman and the ILO.

International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo concluded an official visit to the Sultanate of Oman, praising the country’s rapid progress in labour governance, social protection, and tripartite social dialogue. He said Oman’s reform momentum under Vision 2040 positions it as a leading example for labour market modernization in the Arab region.

Houngbo highlighted that Oman’s integrated approach—implementing the 2023 Labour Law, advancing a unified Social Protection Law, and reinforcing structured dialogue between government, employers, and workers—shows a commitment to building resilient, inclusive, and future-ready labour markets.

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Recognition of Oman–ILO Partnership

During meetings with senior Omani leaders, Houngbo received the Sultan of Oman’s Medal, acknowledging the strong partnership between Oman and the ILO. The Director-General met with:

• Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said

• Minister of Labour Mahad bin Said bin Ali Baawain

• Minister of Foreign Affairs Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi

Discussions addressed progress on labour reforms, including:

• Implementation of the 2023 Labour Law

• Rollout of the unified Social Protection Law

• Strengthening employment and wage protection systems

• Preparations for ratifying key international labour standards, such as the Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183)

Houngbo described Oman’s reform trajectory as forward-looking and rooted in principles of justice, dialogue, modernization, and inclusion.

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Advancing Regional Labour Standards and Tripartism

As part of the visit, Houngbo addressed the ILO’s first tripartite regional workshop on International Labour Standards in the Arab region, hosted by Oman’s Ministry of Labour. He called the workshop a strategic milestone in strengthening:

• Regional capacity on labour standards

• Tripartite engagement among governments, employers and workers

• Decent work and social justice across the Arab States

He noted the workshop aligns with a transformative period in which many Arab countries are reforming labour markets, investing in skills, and modernizing data-driven labour institutions.

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Strengthening Social Dialogue and Worker Representation

Meetings with the General Federation of Oman Workers (GFOW) and the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) highlighted new initiatives designed to:

• Encourage structured social dialogue

• Expand inclusive representation of workers and employers

• Support enterprise-level compliance

• Institutionalize the Committee for Joint Dialogue between Production Parties established under the 2023 Labour Law

Houngbo commended these efforts as essential for building a sustainable dialogue architecture aligned with international norms.

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Consolidating Oman’s Unified Social Protection System

During consultations with the Social Protection Fund (SPF), the Director-General reviewed progress in:

• Expanding social protection coverage to nationals and non-national workers

• Strengthening actuarial and governance capacities

• Integrating multiple schemes into a single unified system

• Enhancing cooperation between the SPF and ILO

These reforms are central to Oman’s 2040 vision of a comprehensive, inclusive, and future-proof social protection framework.

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Commitment to Continued Reform

At the National Forum for Joint Dialogue, Houngbo encouraged Oman to continue ratifying additional international labour standards, especially in areas related to:

• Occupational safety and health

• Social protection

• Collective bargaining

• Social dialogue mechanisms

He concluded his visit by commending Oman’s long-term plans to strengthen:

• Employment policy development

• Labour inspection systems

• Labour market governance and regulatory frameworks

Houngbo reaffirmed the ILO’s commitment as a long-term partner supporting Oman’s ambition to build a modern labour market anchored in rights, dialogue, and opportunity.