Oman contractors struggle to hit nationalisation targets

Country’s construction sector said to be facing recruiting problem as firms struggle to hit 30% Omani quota

Oman’s construction sector faces recruiting problem because nationalisation targets are higher, according to GulfTalent, a job site for professionals in the Middle East and Gulf region.

The main stumbling block is that the nationals have ‘inaccurate’ image of the construction sector.

As per Omanisation targets, 30 percent of a firm’s workers should be nationals.

“To get nationals in this field is difficult because of the unavailability of nationals in the sector,” a contractor, who wished to remain unnamed, told Times of Oman.

According to him, it is difficult to obtain visa clearances for an expatriate for private construction jobs.

The government provides clearance only if it is a government project.

He added that some nationals available in the construction sector are interested to work only in certain categories.

“If we get a national to work, he works at most for six months and then leaves the job. They are not ready to work for long period,” said the contractor.

Mohammad Kabir Ahmed, Managing Director of United Dreams, said: “Our new rule is not allowing recruiting more workers from a country.

“For example, in earlier times we could recruit as many workers from Bangladesh as we liked. But now only 10% is allowed.

“To get Omani workers in this sector is harder,” he added.

The Omanisation process in most firms in the sector is not complete, and the 30% quota of Omani workers remains unfilled, the report added.