Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has unveiled a significant new employment commitment by sponsoring the vocational training of 1,500 Omani jobseekers to work in the security industry.

The on-the-job training will last for two months with suitable candidates learning vital security and safety skills. On successful completion of the programme, they will take up employment with Security and Safety Services (SSS) LLC as guards at government and company offices, and shopping malls.

The training will be aimed at Omani men and women aged between 18 and 30 with a high school diploma or who have been educated to grade 11 as a minimum.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) underpinning the three-year initiative was signed by PDO and SSS on Sunday at the Knowledge World complex at Mina Al Fahal.

The security training is part of PDO’s national objectives programme, which is targeting the creation of 17,000 job, training, redeployment, transfer and scholarship opportunities this year alone. The company has generated more than 45,000 such opportunities in both the oil and non-oil sectors, such as hospitality, real estate, fashion and aviation, so far.

“I am pleased to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to all those responsible for the national objectives programme adopted by PDO and their tremendous efforts in implementing this programme, which aims to secure employment for jobseekers in all private sector companies and institutions,” said SSS Chief Executive Officer Brigadier General Rashid Al Sidairi.

“His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has always stressed that the primary objective of development has always been the Omani citizen. Believing in the importance of this programme and the support it provides to jobseekers, the Security and Safety Services Establishment joins hands with PDO to provide career development training for young Omanis.”