Major agreements inked to train national manpower

Twenty-seven agreements worth RO2,283,215 were signed at the Ministry of Manpower yesterday to train 706 Omani nationals. This programme comes as part of the campaign to train and provide employment to Omanis in various professions. The agreements were signed on behalf of the Sultanate's government by Sheikh Abdullah bin Nassir Al Bakri, the Minister of Manpower, while they were signed on behalf of the private training establishments by their directors general and officials. Sheikh Al Bakri said these agreements are part of the campaign to enhance human resources development and attracting a larger number of Omani youths to work in various divisions of the private sector. He said the period of training extends from six to nine months. Training plans In a Press statement, he said the Ministry of Manpower has expanded the capacity of the vocational training centres to absorb 4,700 trainees, explaining that the ministry is promoting and upgrading the training plans according to the requirements of the labour market. He added that each trainee will receive OMR150 per month as training allowance. The government will pay the cost of training at the private training centres while the trainees at the vocational training centres living 50 km from the centre will receive OMR45 per month and those living more than 50 km far from the centre will receive OMR90. He added that the training programmes at the ministry are open for 20,000 trainees as the ministry seeks — within the framework of training programmes coupled with employment — to train 7,000 male and female citizens.