Sunday 03 / August / 2025
Salalah: The Labour Forum 2025, organised by the Ministry of Labour, officially opened on Sunday at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Compound for Culture and Entertainment in Salalah.
The event has drawn extensive participation, with over 1,000 attendees from within Oman and abroad, representing government and private entities, academic institutions, and regional and international organisations. The forum will run for 12 days.
The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of Dr. Mahad Said Ba’awin, Minister of Labour.
The forum serves as a national platform for constructive dialogue on the future of Oman’s labour market.
It features the presentation and discussion of 33 working papers addressing key challenges and opportunities, alongside showcasing pioneering local and international experiences and practices.
The event enjoys strategic partnerships with several local institutions, including Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, General Federation of Oman Workers, educational institutions and the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones.
It also includes international partners such as the Arab Labour Organisation, the Arab Administrative Development Organisation and the Executive Bureau of the GCC Labour and Social Affairs Ministers Council.
Nasser Salim Al Hadhrami, Director General of Labour in Dhofar Governorate, delivered a speech stressing the importance of keeping pace with global labour market changes.
He highlighted Oman’s progressive steps in this field, including the issuance of the new Labour Law and Social Protection Law, as well as the adoption of integrated strategies encompassing education, training, employment, and modern work models.
In his turn, Mohammed Hassan Al Abidly, Director General of the Executive Bureau of the GCC Labour and Social Affairs Ministers Council, pointed out that rapid economic, technological, and environmental changes pose challenges that require joint efforts to develop skills, employment models, and social protection to ensure an effective and equitable response.
Meanwhile, Azar Bayramov, Director General of the Islamic Cooperation Labour Center, discussed the center’s role in bridging cooperation between governments, workers, and employers, as well as providing capacity-building programmes for member states.
He announced a specialised training session post-forum on effective leadership in occupational safety and health in Oman.
The forum aims to enhance innovation and professional development by highlighting the latest labour market technologies and innovations, improve the work environment and develop labour policies in line with economic, technological, and social transformations, in addition to strengthening international cooperation through the exchange of expertise and knowledge.
The forum continues until 14 August, featuring an exhibition of student projects from vocational colleges, - an open meeting between the Minister of Labour and business owners, a Future of Work Forum, a Government Transformation and Sustainable Leadership Conference, as well as a train-the-trainer program on occupational safety and health leadership.
This forum aligns with the Ministry of Labour’s efforts to develop labour market policies and anticipate future trends in accordance with Oman Vision 2040.
It reinforces partnerships across sectors and integrates visions toward achieving sustainable economic and social development.
