Monday 23 / December / 2024
Oman's economy which is struggling due to the oil price crunch, and the government's plan to get back on track, continued to dominate the news agenda this week in Oman.
1) Thousands of expat and Omani employees working at state-owned institutions, run with 50 per cent government funding or more, are to have a number of benefits slashed, according to a decision from the Ministry of Finance. The circular (5/2016) signed by Darwish bin Ismail bin Ali Al Balushi, Minister Responsible for Financial Affairs, stated that the decision has been made to cushion the economy which is struggling due to the oil price crunch.
2) Bosses in the private sector cannot axe worker benefits for their expat and Omani employees in the same way those at government-funded companies, an official at the Ministry of Manpower told Times of Oman. This was the second best read story on timesofoman.com.
3) Thousands of expatriate workers employed by state-owned institutions, which receive 50 per cent or more of their funds from the government, are in a fix whether to continue working in Oman in the wake of possibility of some employee benefits being withdrawn. This was the third best story of the week.
4) A leading hypermarket chain in Oman has pulled off the Snickers (Miniatures), Mars (Minis and Miniatures) and Best of Our Minis chocolate bars from its shelves after news of a recall by the chocolate maker was published.
5) Number five on most read stories, was the registration for new e-Government services provided by the Information Telecommunication Authority. The service called ‘Tam’ allows registered citizens and residents to use government electronic services and carry out transactions in a fast and secure way.
