The General Federation of Oman Trade Unions reports widespread abuses of workers’ rights and severe obstacles to the exercise of freedom of association and collective bargaining. They stress that many workers face anti-union discrimination in employment because of their union membership, including dismissals, transfers and harassment. The union also denounces undue interference of employers in union election processes: employers often resort to transfers of the chair or members of the preparatory committee to another place of work; verbal and direct threats to the president or the members of the preparatory committee; and disciplinary penalties including warnings and deduction of wages.
Employers also hinder collective bargaining processes by refusing to attend scheduled negotiation meetings or unduly delaying the meetings, ignoring the demands of unions and sending, with the sole purpose of stalling negotiations, representatives who are not entrusted with any bargaining or decision power.
Finally, the General Federation of Oman Trade Unions highlights that while strikes are authorised in the legislation, some categories of workers are banned from striking, including in airports, electricity companies, oil companies and refineries and ports. Moreover, the organisation of strikes is subject to mediation by a committee consisting of the Ministry of Manpower, the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the General Federation of Oman Trade Unions. If, in a period of three weeks, the committee cannot come to an agreement, the matter is transferred to the court. While mediation and court procedures are ongoing, strikes are not allowed.