Wednesday 05 / August / 2026
Muscat: Oman’s Ministry of Labour has concluded the Labour Market Labs, held as part of the third edition of the Labour Forum, with the endorsement of a comprehensive roadmap aimed at strengthening governance, enhancing the legislative and regulatory framework, developing the arts, entertainment and recreation sector, and preparing the labour market for future economic transformations.
The two-day event, which brought together government officials, private sector representatives, entrepreneurs and labour market experts, concluded under the patronage of H.E. Prof. Mahad bin Said Baowain, Minister of Labour.
Speaking at the closing session, the Minister described the arts, entertainment and recreation sector as one of Oman’s most promising economic sectors, highlighting its significant investment potential and its role in diversifying the national economy, creating new employment opportunities and increasing value-added in line with Oman Vision 2040.
He noted that the sector is governed by a range of laws and regulations, stressing that its continued growth requires a comprehensive regulatory framework that enhances operational efficiency while reflecting the unique nature of its activities. He added that the sector has evolved beyond a purely domestic industry and is now closely linked to commercial, financial and investment activities targeting regional and international markets, making legislative modernization and stronger institutional coordination essential to attracting high-quality investments.
On labour governance and legislative reforms, the Minister emphasized that the development of Oman’s legal framework follows a participatory approach involving key stakeholders, including the three production partners—government, employers and workers—as well as the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs. He said this collaborative process ensures that labour legislation remains responsive to changing economic conditions and labour market needs while improving the effectiveness of policies and ministerial decisions.
The Labour Market Labs adopted a structured methodology that guided participants from identifying challenges and analysing root causes to designing practical solutions and implementation initiatives. Proposed recommendations were evaluated based on their impact, feasibility and sustainability before being translated into actionable plans supported by performance indicators, implementing entities and clear timelines.
One of the specialised labs focused on governance of legislative procedures and ministerial decisions, exploring ways to modernise the labour market's legal and regulatory environment, strengthen governance and transparency, improve institutional efficiency, simplify procedures and enhance coordination among relevant authorities. Discussions also addressed the importance of updating legislation to keep pace with economic changes and improve the competitiveness and flexibility of the labour market.
Another lab examined the arts, entertainment and recreation sector, highlighting its growing role within the creative economy and its potential to generate employment, attract investment and stimulate entrepreneurship. Participants discussed opportunities in artistic production, content creation, digital media, event management and entertainment technologies, identifying them as promising industries capable of contributing to economic diversification and creating high-value jobs.
The Ministry's Director of Labour Market Studies, Huda bint Humaid Al Shibli, presented an overview of the sector's current performance, economic indicators and future opportunities, underscoring the importance of aligning education and training outcomes with the needs of creative industries to prepare a skilled national workforce capable of leading the sector's future growth.
The workshops concluded with a set of recommendations calling for the modernization of the legislative and regulatory framework, stronger governance, closer alignment between education and labour market requirements, increased investment in creative industries, greater support for small and medium-sized enterprises, and enhanced cooperation between the public and private sectors. The recommendations also include the development of implementation plans with measurable performance indicators and defined timelines to ensure sustainable outcomes.
The Ministry of Labour said the outcomes of the Labour Market Labs represent a significant step toward building a more efficient, flexible and future-ready labour market, strengthening institutional governance, fostering innovation in policymaking, and enabling emerging economic sectors to play a greater role in supporting sustainable development and creating new employment and investment opportunities in Oman.
