Muscat: Nabhan Ahmed al Battashi, Chairman of the GFOW Board of Directors, along with several board members and specialists from the General Federation of Oman Workers (GFOW), welcomed Luc Triangle, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
The meeting reviewed the state of human and trade union rights in Oman, highlighting key legislative provisions in the Labour Law and Social Protection Law. It reaffirmed the strategic partnership between the GFOW, the ITUC, and its regional affiliates while underscoring the GFOW’s role in protecting workers’ rights, improving working conditions, enhancing productivity, and strengthening social dialogue among the tripartite partners.
During his visit, the ITUC General Secretary met with Dr Mohad Said Bawain, Minister of Labour, and Shaikh Khalifa Ali al Harthi, Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Discussions focused on institutionalising social dialogue through mechanisms that ensure evidence-based labour market policies and sustained engagement of the tripartite partners for effective implementation.
He also stressed the importance of expanding social dialogue with active GFOW participation to ensure economic, financial, and social policies contribute positively to decent work in Oman.
Additionally, he highlighted the need to advance legislation supporting trade union rights and freedoms, paving the way for Oman’s ratification of key ILO conventions.
The GFOW joined the ITUC in 2013 and has since implemented joint programmes aimed at strengthening trade union organisation and membership in the private sector.
The ITUC represents 191 million workers across 339 trade unions in 169 countries. Its structure includes the Global Congress, the General Council, the Executive Bureau, and Regional Organisations. Working closely with Global Union Federations and the ILO, the ITUC promotes workers’ rights through international trade union cooperation, focusing on trade union work, human rights, economic and social policies, working conditions, and international solidarity.
The ITUC also plays a key role in shaping global labour policy, advocating for fair wages, reasonable working hours, and leave entitlements. Its annual Global Rights Index assesses workers’ rights worldwide based on criteria such as freedom of association and collective bargaining.
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