New promotion system for Omani employees

Saud al Ansari and Balqees al Oraimi

MUSCAT: The Ministry of Labour has announced the implementation of a new promotion system for Omani civil employees in government administrative units, effective from 2026, with RO 10 million allocated for promotions this year.

The announcement was made during a media briefing held by the ministry in Muscat on the new promotion system, attended by Said bin Abdullah al Balushi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Labour for Human Resources Development, along with ministry officials, specialists and representatives of government administrative units.

Abdullah bin Muhanna al Kharousi, Director-General of Administrative Review and Follow-up at the Ministry of Labour, gave a presentation outlining the new promotion tracks, their conditions, criteria and regulations, evaluation and selection mechanisms, and the role of promotion committees in government units.

The new system forms part of the efforts to develop human resources management practices and organise promotions through clear mechanisms and criteria, strengthening the link between performance and career development while taking into account the financial allocations approved for promotions.

The promotion rules apply to Omani civil employees holding permanent positions in government administrative units, except for categories governed by special employment systems, which remain subject to the promotion rules stipulated in their respective regulations.

THREE TRACKS

Al Kharousi said the promotion system is based on three main tracks: the fast track for exceptional performance, the flexible track based on competitive selection, and the special track for retention and recruitment. The three tracks are designed to address different employment situations according to specific conditions, criteria and regulations.

The fast track targets employees demonstrating exceptional performance. To qualify, an employee must have spent at least three years in the grade preceding the grade to which promotion is sought and must have received three ‘Excellent’ performance evaluation reports under the ‘Ejada’ system. The promotion must also remain within the maximum career progression stipulated under the job classification and grading system issued by Civil Service Council Decision No 10/2010, with no promotion impediment applying to the employee.

The flexible track is based on competition among employees who meet the promotion requirements and is implemented within the financial allocations remaining from the amount allocated for the fast track.