UoB: We do not have any Administrative Positions held by Foreigners

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

The University of Bahrain has clarified its recruitment practices, emphasising its commitment to transparency and prioritising Bahraini nationals in its workforce.

The university stated that it utilises the government's "Shawagher" platform to advertise job openings. "If suitable Bahraini candidates are not found, the university requests CVs from the Civil Service Bureau. The selection process then involves personal interviews and final selection," it explained.

The university currently employs 283 individuals on contract basis, and it has confirmed that no administrative positions are held by non-Bahraini nationals.

In response to a parliamentary investigation committee's inquiry about employment contracts and labour supply in government ministries, agencies, and companies, the university stressed its adherence to all procedures outlined in the Unified Financial Manual, the Tender Board's legislation, and the Civil Service Bureau's directives.

The university explained its tendering process, which involves the formation of internal committees to prepare tender documents, define evaluation mechanisms, establish performance indicators, and analyse bids after opening. Contracts exceeding 300,000 Bahraini dinars are submitted to the Legal and Legislative Authority for review and opinion.

"After bids are submitted, committees review the proposals, ensuring all required documents and information, including a valid Bahraini nationality certificate, are present. Contracts are only awarded to bids meeting all stipulated conditions," the university highlighted.

"Once contracts are awarded, suppliers are obligated to comply with the terms outlined in the agreements. The university confirmed that all suppliers adhere to the mandated Bahrainization quotas,"

The university also provided a table detailing its academic staff, outlining its recruitment process for faculty members. The process begins with advertising vacancies on the university's website after verifying budget allocation and the university's staffing ceiling. Academic departments then review candidates, conduct interviews, and select the most suitable candidate. The Civil Service Bureau is then contacted for approval and the completion of necessary administrative procedures for employment.

The university underscored that positions for Assistant 1 and 2, requiring Bachelor's and Master's degrees, are exclusively for Bahraini nationals. "Other academic positions are open to all nationalities, with priority given to Bahraini candidates," it concluded.

It's worth noting that in the upcoming parliamentary session, the Council of Representatives will discuss the reports of two investigative committees - the "Bahrainization" committee and the committee on employment contracts. Both committees have completed their reports and will project them during the next parliamentary session, presenting their findings and recommendations to open the floor for MPs to discuss them.

The Bahrainization committee's focus areas include reviewing the procedures adopted by the Civil Service Bureau and the Ministry of Labour regarding the process of replacing expatriates with citizens, identifying the existing positions in the public and private sectors occupied by expatriates, as well as understanding the current steps and timelines in the Bahrainization process.

Meanwhile, the employment contracts committee, on the other hand, studied the procedures followed by the Civil Service Bureau, ministries, agencies, government companies, and the Tender Board regarding the procurement of manpower and the contracts for administrative, technical, and logistical services.