Working in Oman, Omanization, and In-Country Value
We had a glimpse into the corporate world in Oman. Many things stunned us and not the least the so-called "Omanization". It is an indigenous policy that aims at increasing the number of Omani staff. In Europe, the same policy is called 'discrimination'. While Europeans also prefer to deal with other Europeans, hiring is done more discreetly. The applicant is, for example, required to speak fluently the official language of the country, which is a considerable barrier considering the number of languages spoken in Europe. Or, if the applicant's skin colour, ethnicity or gender doesn't match expectations, the employer may blame fierce competition for rejection.