Sayyid Fahd receives Secretary-General of ITUC
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Muscat Daily
5 days ago
- Muscat Daily
KSP Engel of Germany wins Muscat Municipality design contest
Muscat – Muscat Municipality announced the winners of its international architecture competition for a landmark multi-use building in Bausher on Tuesday, with Germany's KSP Engel securing first place. Launched earlier this year, the competition was held to select a design that reflects Omani identity while serving modern civic needs. The winners were revealed at a ceremony held under the patronage of H H Sayyid Dr Kamil Fahad Mahmood al Said, Secretary-General of Council of Ministers. The event was attended by Ahmed bin Mohammed al Humaidi, Chairman of Muscat Municipality, senior officials and architects from Oman and abroad. KSP Engel emerged as the winner following presentations by five shortlisted firms. North Macedonia's Bisan Mohammadi Architects was awarded second place, while Belgium's Xavier De Geyter Architects placed third. The winning design will be built on an 8,000sqm site near Oman Avenues Mall and is expected to serve as a prominent civic facility combining functionality with cultural expression. In his remarks, Humaidi said the competition was part of Muscat's urban development strategy, aiming to modernise the city while maintaining architectural continuity with Omani heritage. He added that the competition results would contribute to shaping a future-ready capital that remains rooted in its cultural values. The two-day competition closing event, held on July 7 and 8, included presentations by all five finalists, the other two being Paolo Vimercati Urban Projects (UK) and Samyn and Partners (Belgium). Each proposal was evaluated for its approach to sustainability, cultural integration and architectural merit. The jury, chaired by Don Murphy of VMX Architects, included Omani and international experts. Murphy praised the quality of submissions, stating that each design offered a compelling vision for a civic structure that could serve as a cultural landmark.
Muscat Daily
5 days ago
- Muscat Daily
Labour amnesty in Oman ends on July 31
Muscat – Ministry of Labour has issued a final reminder that the grace period to regularise legal employment status ends on July 31, 2025. Individuals, employers and workers across the sultanate are urged to take advantage of the exemption and waiver currently available. According to the ministry, applications for employment regularisation will not be accepted after July 31. The announcement follows MoL's earlier directive in January, which outlined a set of financial exemptions and settlements exceeding RO60mn. Approved by the Council of Ministers, the initiative aims to improve labour market regulation, protect the rights of all parties, and establish a more balanced and legally compliant workforce structure. Key measures include cancellation of all fines and dues for expired labour cards invalid for more than seven years. Employers will also be exempt from repatriation ticket costs incurred before 2017. Labour cards unused for over a decade, with no service requests, will be cancelled. These cards may be reactivated under certain conditions, including submitting renewal requests, processing final departure, service transfers or reporting work abandonment. Financial obligations of companies that have been officially liquidated will also be waived, provided their employees are repatriated or transferred to other employers. During the amnesty period, which started on February 1, fines associated with labour cards will be dropped if certain conditions are met. These include renewing cards, paying fees for two years and cancelling work abandonment reports. Applications can be submitted through MoL's official website or via authorised service centres till July 31.
Times of Oman
5 days ago
- Times of Oman
State Council discusses three draft laws
Muscat: The State Council on Tuesday held its eighth session of the second ordinary term of its eighth period, during which it discussed the 'Real Estate Registry Law," the 'Draft Law Amending Certain Provisions of the Arbitration Law in Civil and Commercial Disputes (Royal Decree No. 47/97)," and the 'Civil Society Organisations Law." The session also reviewed the Special Committee's study on "Mechanisms for Diversifying Income Sources in Oman" and examined the General Secretariat's report on the Council's activities. Held under the chairmanship of Sheikh Abdulmalik Abdullah Al Khalili, Chairman of the State Council, the session discussed the Legal Committee's opinion on the Real Estate Registry Law, referred by the Council of Ministers. The draft law focuses on several key aspects, including: Strengthening legal protections for property owners and beneficiaries; Regulating registration procedures and real estate transactions and enabling digital documentation and issuing electronic title deeds linked to relevant government systems, aligning with Oman's national digital transformation strategy. The Council also reviewed the Social and Cultural Committee's opinion on the Civil Society Organisations Law, which includes substantive provisions regulating the work and objectives of civil society institutions. The draft law aims to enhance their role in serving society through associations, NGOs, professional societies, volunteer teams, and expatriate clubs, while addressing challenges under the current legal framework. Additionally, the Council examined the Draft Law Amending Certain Provisions of the Arbitration Law in Civil and Commercial Disputes, assessing its impact on arbitration parties and local/international arbitration centres. The amendments align with modern trends in comparative arbitration laws, reinforcing Oman's position as an attractive hub for commercial dispute resolution. The revisions are expected to boost confidence in arbitration mechanisms, create an investment-friendly legal environment and support Oman's adoption of best practices in justice and litigation, in line with Oman Vision 2040 objectives. The session concluded with discussions on the Special Committee's study on income diversification mechanisms, which identifies challenges to financial sustainability, inefficiencies in revenue streams, and potential solutions to enhance fiscal resilience. The study proposes measures to stabilize public finances in the 11th Five-Year Plan including legislative and governance reforms.
