Wednesday 05 / August / 2026
Muscat: Oman has charted a roadmap to build a more flexible and future-ready labour market, with a focus on strengthening governance, improving legislation and supporting promising economic sectors, including arts, entertainment and recreation.
The roadmap was adopted at the conclusion of the labour market laboratories organised as part of the third edition of the Labour Forum, held under the patronage of Dr. Mahad Said Ba’Owain, Minister of Labour.
The laboratories focused on enhancing the efficiency of the labour market system, raising the effectiveness of policies and regulations, and identifying future opportunities that support economic diversification in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
The Minister highlighted the importance of developing the arts, entertainment and recreation sector, describing it as one of the promising sectors with significant investment potential. He said the sector can contribute to diversifying the national economy, creating new employment opportunities and increasing value-added contributions.
He stressed that the growth of the sector requires an integrated regulatory framework that matches the nature of its activities, improves operational efficiency and strengthens competitiveness. As the sector becomes increasingly connected to commercial, financial and investment activities targeting regional and global markets, he said there is a need to enhance its legislative and regulatory environment and strengthen coordination among relevant government entities.
The Minister said the development of labour legislation is based on a participatory approach involving government institutions, employers and workers, with cooperation from the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs. This approach, he noted, helps update regulations and ministerial decisions in line with economic developments while balancing the interests of all production partners.
The labour market laboratories moved beyond identifying challenges to developing practical solutions and initiatives based on analysing root causes, prioritising issues and preparing recommendations supported by performance indicators, responsible entities and clear timelines.
The Governance of Legislative Procedures and Ministerial Decisions Laboratory examined ways to improve the labour market’s legal and regulatory framework, enhance transparency and governance, simplify procedures and strengthen coordination among institutions.
The Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Sector Laboratory explored opportunities in employment, investment and entrepreneurship, while highlighting the role of creative industries in diversifying income sources and creating high-quality jobs. Discussions covered areas such as artistic production, content creation, digital media, event management and entertainment technology.
The recommendations included developing the legislative framework, aligning education and training outputs with the needs of emerging sectors, supporting investment and entrepreneurship in creative industries, encouraging small and medium enterprises, and expanding partnerships between government entities and the private sector.
The Ministry of Labour said the outcomes of the laboratories represent a significant step towards creating a more efficient and adaptable labour market, strengthening institutional governance and establishing a supportive environment for sustainable growth.
The initiatives are expected to open new avenues for employment and investment while enabling promising sectors to play a greater role in Oman’s economic development.
