Yes, the reliability upon the Oil and Gas sector still exists in the world due to the need of many industries to the petrochemical industries and currently there is no alternative. The government relies on Oil and Gas sector in absorbing big numbers of job seekers..
Can you update us with the efforts paid by the Oil companies in this regard? and what is anticipated in the future?
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral in coordination with the companies working in the sector has made big efforts to absorb big numbers of job seekers in the Oil and Gas sector which resulted with high Omanization ratio in the different companies in the sector. These efforts can be summarized as follows:
First: the local added value program: which includes a number of initiatives such as:
Petro jobs employment platform: MEM through the local added value program has established the mutual employment platform for companies to be a joining point to view and apply for vacancies to all the operating companies, which made it easy for job seekers to look for a suitable career in the Oil and Gas sector. Since the establishment of the platform, a large number of vacancies have been announced for job seekers and whom interested in training opportunities in this vital sector.
Develop and train the national cadres through establishing Sector Skills Unit (SSU) for Oil and Gas sector through Oman Society for Petroleum Services (OPAL) that will have a great role in establishing a joint system including all the concerned parties to conduct research and development activities in order to develop the human resources needed for the sector and focus on developing the skills of the Omani youths to contribute in upgrading the abilities working in the sector and drive the Omanization rates forward.
Apprenticeship program for Oil and Gas sector that was launched in Al Seeb Vocational College where the first batch have joined in 2017. The college was accredited by one of the consultant firms, which is the first accreditation by its kind to a government institution.
Second: the mutual human resources committee between MEM and employing companies: which is concerned of studying and following the topics related to human resources that aims to develop the abilities and qualities of the national cadres which contributes in raising up the Omaniziation rate to the employed companies in the Oil and Gas sector.
Third: training and developing job seekers to prepare them for job market:
Oman Institute for Oil and Gas (InstOG) along with the full support of MEM has lately announced a number of training opportunities for job seekers in the engineering and scientific specializations related to the sector. The program aims to provide them the needed skills and knowledge to join the job market in Oil and Gas industry.
Additionally to what mentioned above, companies continuities to pay great efforts to support the implementation of local added value strategy that will lead to create job opportunities and train big numbers of Omani youths. The opening of Oman Assembly, Repair and Testing (ART) Centre established as collaboration by PDO and Schlumberger Oman in Nizwa Industrial Estate is one of latest example in this regard.