GENEVA, Switzerland — The Sultanate of Oman has launched a series of social protection reforms that will extend crucial benefits to Overseas Filipino Workers, marking a historic shift in Gulf labor policy. The announcement came during the 114th International Labor Conference, drawing praise from the Department of Migrant Workers.
A New Era of Worker Protection
Omani Minister of Labor Mahad Said Ali Bawaain presented the reforms alongside a joint report by the International Labour Organization and Oman’s Social Protection Fund. The framework transitions Oman from fragmented safety nets to a rights‑based, inclusive system aligned with international labor standards. Children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, women, and migrant workers now fall under its coverage.
ILO Director‑General Gilbert F. Houngbo hailed the initiative as one of the most comprehensive social reforms in the Arab region. The system currently serves over 1.5 million beneficiaries. For the first time, foreign workers in Oman will enjoy maternity leave, sick pay, and a national provident fund, dismantling the long‑standing exclusion of expatriates from social security.
Immediate Benefits for Filipino Workers
The reforms follow a phased timeline designed to ensure smooth implementation. Maternity leave of 98 days and paternity leave of seven days, fully funded by social security, took effect in July 2024. Filipino workers in Oman have already started benefiting from these provisions.
The next critical phase starts on July 19, 2026, when sick leave and special leave benefits become available. Under the new rules, the employer pays the first seven days of illness in full, while social security covers days eight to twenty‑one at full pay, with scaled support thereafter. Marriage and bereavement leaves are also included in this wave of protections.
A Savings System That Travels Home
By July 19, 2027, a compulsory National Provident Fund will replace the traditional end‑of‑service gratuity. Foreign workers, including OFWs, will accumulate individual savings accounts funded by a monthly nine‑percent salary contribution. This mechanism ensures that workers do not leave Oman empty‑handed after years of service.
Crucially, the Philippines and Gulf Cooperation Council have launched a cross‑regional platform to make these benefits portable. The DMW, alongside the GCC Executive Bureau, is addressing a long‑standing gap where migrant workers lost accumulated benefits upon returning home. The new framework ensures that social security follows the worker across borders.
Strong Bilateral Commitment
Undersecretary Jainal T. Rasul led the Philippine delegation to the Geneva launch, representing Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac. The DMW welcomed the reforms as a testament to sustained bilateral engagement. A foundational meeting in Manila in July 2025 between Secretary Cacdac and Minister Bawaain had laid the groundwork for this progress.
Both countries are now finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding on Labor Cooperation, which will institutionalize ethical recruitment and joint dispute resolution mechanisms. The Omani model is being watched closely by other Gulf states, potentially setting a new benchmark for migrant worker protection across the Middle East.
