Omán - Union representative dismissed (2013)

On 26 February 2014, Octal Petrochemicals Company workers went on strike demanding the reinstatement of their union representative, Faisal Al Masahali, who was arbitrarily dismissed after he requested unpaid emergency leave to accompany his brother for a medical treatment outside of Oman. The workers also demanded better wages due to increasing living costs. The General Federation of Oman Trade Unions met the Ministry of Manpower and management of the Octal Company to discuss the workers’ demands, but the company has been stalling the agreement approved by all the parties. The government has banned strikes in essential services, including oil companies, refineries, ports and airports.