Call for Collaboration to Address Shifting Labour Market Amid Digital Transformation

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com   

There is a growing call for closer cooperation between schools, businesses, and trade unions to tackle the shifting demands of the labour market, driven by the rise of artificial intelligence and digital work.

The focus has turned towards professional training, open discussions, and legal reforms to safeguard workers' rights.

The aim is to ensure that new technologies and economic changes benefit both businesses and workers, particularly younger generations.

Alongside this, attention is being given to providing social security and adjusting to the evolving nature of jobs and the relationships between employers and employees.

Ahmed Ali, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs at the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions, has urged the creation of a system to encourage collaboration between universities, higher education institutions, and companies in Bahrain.

He raised the alarm about the new challenges in the labour market brought by advances in artificial intelligence and the shift towards digital work. In a presentation during a labour seminar, Ali spoke about the mismatch between what education systems provide and the growing needs of the digital workforce.

He also pushed for more open dialogue between educational, business, and labour bodies, noting that these changes will reshape ideas about workers' rights and job expectations.

Emad Al Ajmi, Deputy Chairman of Asry's Union and a member of the Youth Secretariat of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions, shared similar concerns.

He argued for stronger labour institutions and greater unity within trade unions to lead discussions with key players in the economy.

Al Ajmi pointed to the pressing need for better professional training and the acquisition of new skills that the fast-changing job market requires. He also called for more public education to make people aware of these changes, noting how certain jobs are changing, competition is growing, and new opportunities are opening up through digitalisation.

These topics were addressed at a seminar hosted by the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions on Wednesday, titled “The Digital Economy and Youth Challenges.”

During his remarks, Abdulqader Al Shehabj, Secretary-General of the federation, remarked that the shift towards a digital economy could greatly reduce unemployment rates in the Gulf, provided it is backed by the right laws.

He emphasised the need to balance development with the employment of young local workers, arguing that integration should be the central aim of development.

Al Shehabj noted that using the resources and energy of the Arab world through collaboration would fuel progress, adding that open dialogue can turn disagreements into chances for cooperation.

Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary-General Hassan Al Halwachi highlighted that the real issue is not job loss per se, as millions of roles will vanish, but rather how new roles will emerge in different forms.

He stressed that the challenge lies in how these new roles will reshape the worker-employer relationship, which will impact unions and social safety nets. Al Halwachi called for prompt action to address these changes, emphasising the need to prioritise social protection for workers amid ongoing transformations.