Labour Ministry campaign promotes occupational safety

Muscat: The Ministry of Labour on Sunday held a ceremony to mark the conclusion of “Safe Summer 2026” campaign, which aimed to raise public awareness about the risks of exposure to heat at worksites during the summer months and to enhance compliance with occupational safety and health standards.The ceremony was held under the auspices of Khalid bin Salim Al Ghammari, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour for Labour Affairs. Hussain bin Ali Al Lawati, Director General of Labour Welfare at the Ministry of Labour, said that the campaign was in line with the Sultanate of Oman’s national and institutional policy to promote occupational safety and health and to address any risks linked to working conditions during the summer season.Al Lawati pointed out that the Ministry of Labour keeps developing systems, regulations and decisions related to occupational safety and health. The Ministry also monitors private sector compliance with preventive measures and means to address challenges within work environments, he added.He explained that, during the current campaign period, the Ministry of Labour received more than 1,000 applications for midday work permits. The applications were checked to ensure compliance with occupational safety requirements, said Al Lawati, noting that the Ministry approved about 79 percent of thosee applications.Al Lawati affirmed that the teams of the Ministry conducted field visits to concession areas to verify that work establishments adhere to permit terms and worker protection requirements.He added that the Labour Ministry’s field teams laid emphasis on compliance with regulations that prohibit working during certain hours, including midday hours during the summer months. He observed that the visits showed that adherence to regulations related to risks associated with high temperatures and direct sun exposure exceeded 80 percent.The campaign included organizing workshops and programmes and distributing leaflets to raise public awareness about heat-related risks, in addition to the implementation of a programme codenamed “Basma” (Imprint) in schools to foster occupational safety standards at an early age.Al Lawati said that, over the next stage, the Ministry will focus on the use of modern technologies and international practices to enhance the aptitude of work establishments to address challenges linked to climate change and high temperatures.