Oman Air denies laying-off 1,000 employees

MUSCAT: National airline Oman Air on Thursday denied social media reports that it terminated the services of 1,000 employees.

In a detailed statement issued, the airline said since last year, it has been “implementing a comprehensive transformation programme to change the company’s course with the aim of achieving financial stability”. The transformation process, according to the airline, included implementing a set of measures to rationalize costs and improve the networks. “These measures also included reviewing the organizational structure and determining the optimal level of workforce in terms of numbers, expertise and competencies required to achieve sustainability in line with the company’s needs.”

“This structure was announced in several stages over the past 18 months. In the first stage, the company offered a severance package for Omani employees. In the restructuring, the company was keen to give priority to the available jobs to the Omani employees, which led to the decision to remove 426 foreign employees. The Omanization rate has improved since the beginning of the transformation, as it rose to 78%. The Omanization rate in most of the company’s departments has exceeded 90%,” Oman Air said.
The airline categorically denied terminating 1,000 employees as part of the restructuring. “Contrary to what was circulated on various social media platforms regarding the termination of 1,000 employees, the company categorically denies this, as the services of Omani employees were not terminated due to the restructuring,”

However, the surplus number of employees in the company reached 365 and “a termination bonus program was offered to these employees in appreciation of their service to the company. We also gave them a sufficient period of no less than four weeks to make a final decision without prejudice to their rights and employment privileges,” Oman Air added.