When the Eid Al Adh'ha holidays were announced for the private sector, most of the employees were rejoicing even though the facts stood that they only get 4 days off for the entire period in comparison to their public sector counterparts who got 9 whole days since their holidays would include two weekends plus the week that the government gave them off.
Having considered that if the entire private sector shut down then the country would come to an entire standstill and no one would stand to gain from giving the entire holiday for their employees, but there is also the matter of decency when, like Christians all over the world celebrate their Christmas and New Year holidays by staying at home and gathering around their loved ones, be it family, friends or close relatives that they know - the same should go for the Muslims who work in the private sector in such organizations that offer only a day's holiday on a shift rotation per week in addition to having this extra Eid holiday as a extra advantage in their pockets.
However, the laws of the private sector say that as long as the companies see it in their advantage that the employee should attend his work during the holiday they they may 'order' them to do so but by agreeing with each each other on proper compensation. Most of the companies ask the employees to attend the holiday just because they don't want to lose out on their business which serves services or products by adding the compensation automatically and not enquiring about the employees favoritism.
In a matter of speaking, companies can do that. But they can't get away with it if the employee is dissatisfied with the end result by losing out on a day that brings him joy maybe only twice a every year.
In this case, the employee can choose not to attend that day by leaving an early notification of this and if forced complain to the Ministry of Manpower as the law gives the employee to choose whether to be compensated or to take the holiday - either way, it has to be in agreement between the employer and employee.
Unfortunately, since this is a new update in the Omani labor law as of this year only, none of the employees in the private sector (irrespective of their nationality or gender or race or ethnicity) are willing to go down that road simply because of the saying that 'one hand does not clap'.
Employees who work in the private sector have that right yet waive it off because they are too afraid of the consequences that could come afterwards. And unfortunately, this issue is not addressed by the Ministry of Manpower since the new update to Omani labor law that was updated by a Royal Decree by His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos, the Sultan of Oman.
A dilemma that this country faces every year only to repeat itself time and time again.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
how private sector employees waive off their rights
Posted by Sleepless In Muscat at 00:20
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6 comments:
Well the Gov't has taken the first step in rectifying/creating laws to address the problem. It's upto citizens to put the law to use then and see if it upholds it's promise. While there is no point in biting the hand that feeds you, when nothing is ventured, nothing is gained.
If your comparing Eid holidays to the west's Christmas and new Years holidays, then you should know that most private companies in the states only give Xmas day and new years day off. Some might give the xmas eve and New Years eve off, but very unlikely. Also, the average new employee gets 14 days of vacation a year.
I thought I might share that since you use it in your text.
Eid mubarak.
4 days holiday is more than enough. Add the Friday and it's a blessing. The government is getting 9 days off but we all know that they don't really do anything. Eid day is the one day that matters and regardless whether you work in the government or the private sector just about everyone's getting this day off. Of course there are some companies that can't just shut down even on this one day and for them someone needs to sacrifice by working eid day against extra pay or compensation by other days off. Airlines, gas stations, courier companies, exchange houses, hotels, restaurants, etc. Lots of companies can't afford to close even on Eid day. And that's not counting retailers. A large percentage of Omanis go to Dubai during eid to shop. Imagine if all the shops closed during the holiday. Unimaginable in Dubai, but lots of shops close here in Oman. If are to become a real tourist destination we will have to move towards having a 365 day, open all year economy ourselves.
Most companies don't have to force employees to work during holidays. There are always some people who are willing to volunteer for the work against the overtime pay. Companies don't have to go to extremes like forcing people except when no one is available to volunteer, but most business owners are accommodating. And things generally work out.
Sex & Dubai:
The government went ahead and updated the policy on the Omani labor law but never updated the employee on his rights. And there is a employee union in Oman that has been given the right to act upon measures that are accounted as unfair but so far they have accomplished nothing yet apart from revealing themselves.
Per Your Request:
I am not comparing any holiday to another. The fact of the matter is that in our part of the world, people are entitled to a holiday on specific religious dates.
Most of the outlets in Oman were closed down today because of what was passed down as a decision by the Ministry of Manpower. But there are those that suffered badly by having nationals of Muslim origin attend the first day Eid as a working day and not around their loved ones.
Happy New Year.
Muscati:
I have made my case clear and I don't explain it any further to you or to anyone. I don't think I misrepresented anything. And I fully understand what it means should Oman's economy all stop during the Eid holidays. But honestly speaking, I don't think that's what you believe in because of the fact that you yourself are an employee in the private sector and look forward to a decent holiday between your loved ones. Does this measure only count on people who work 6 days a week or should it not be equally laid out for everyone to be happy?
And don't make the mistake of comparing Oman to Dubai; because there is no way you can, Dubai has it's own set of demographics population and targets. And clearly Oman has repeatedly announced that it does not aim to become another Dubai. (no offense to any UAE residents/citizens/nationals).
Thank you for wishing me an Eid Mubarak.
DG:
Eid Mubarak to you, too my friend and an advanced Happy New Year to you and all your loved ones, inshallah.
How come you are so defensive? If you don't like hearing other people's opinions shut off your comments feature.
I have made my case clear and I don't explain it any further to you or to anyone.
This is such a rude reply when in fact my comment didn't have anything rude in it neither towards your post or you yourself.
If you really want to be a serious writer then you need to be more serious about your writing which means among other things that you need to learn to accept criticism from others.
Muscati:
I apologize if my reply to you seemed rude as that was not my intention even if I seemed to be defensive as you say.
But fact of the matter, is that when you come to comment on about the things that I criticize about Oman and some of the policies that are taken towards some of the issues that are ill-discussed in the society you seem to be taking the safe side even though I know very well that you have your reservations about the very same issues especially when you blog about them on your blog.
I apologize again.
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