New regulation to require licences for foreign workers in 25 key professions

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

A new regulation is on the horizon, stipulating that no profession can be practised without a licence and a passing score on a skill assessment test, according to the Labour Minister, His Excellency Jameel Humaidan.

This regulation is being crafted by a joint team from the Ministry of Labour, Labour Fund (Tamkeen), the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), and the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).

The Minister announced that the policy would include revoking work permits for foreign workers who fail the skill assessment related to their profession.

Licences will be issued to private centres, institutes, and universities authorised to conduct these assessments.

To date, the team has set standards and professional requirements for 25 practical professions, including welders, insulation installers, occupational health and safety officers, tile installers, construction de-watering specialists, carpenters, car mechanics, heavy machinery mechanics, heavy equipment maintenance mechanics, asphalt pavers, steel parts casters, rock drillers, grinders, steelworkers, scaffolders, aluminium door manufacturers, road and construction equipment operators, industrial equipment operators, factory equipment operators, painters, precision instrument and control operators, and pipe and plumbing installers.

The draft regulation is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet for final approval soon.

Regulation

Responding to a parliamentary question from MP Ahmed Al- Salloom, the Minister stressed the importance of this regulation.

A significant number of workers in the labour market are employed in these 25 professions, necessitating clear standards to identify suitable practitioners.

This move aims to improve the quality of products and services, reduce the skills gap, and create job opportunities for Bahrainis in these fields.

Three professions — electrician, plumber, and air conditioning repair technician—are excluded as other government entities issue the relevant licences.

Coordination

The Minister noted that Tamkeen has coordinated with the Ministry of Labour and relevant business owners to update professional standards for these 25 professions.

This involves defining job descriptions, career paths, related sectors, main tasks, technical skills, required behaviours, and training standards.

The Ministry of Labour will issue professional licences to individuals wishing to practise these professions after they pass the skill assessment conducted by authorised entities meeting international standards set by the Ministry and Tamkeen.

Licences will also be granted to entities wishing to conduct these assessments, with assessors being certified based on international standards.

Professional licences will be linked to work permits, integrating the Ministry’s electronic licensing system with the LMRA ‘s work permit system.

Skill assessment

Work permits will be revoked for workers who fail the skill assessment. Special centres and private training institutes will be authorised to conduct skill assessments, provided they have commercial registration from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Existing training institutes and universities will also be permitted to conduct these assessments, alongside leading private institutions in relevant fields.

The joint team has held several meetings with private institutions, most of whom are prepared to undertake this activity.

Standards

They have also engaged with international standards bodies, which have expressed readiness to collaborate on setting standards for professional licensing and skill assessment.

The Ministry of Labour is developing an electronic system for issuing professional licences, coordinating with Tamkeen to determine funding.

Tamkeen will support Bahrainis seeking to obtain licences for any of the mentioned professions, with awareness campaigns planned for government entities, business owners, and workers, coinciding with the issuance of the ministerial decision.