Push for higher disability job quota hits a hurdle

TDT | Manama                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Email: ashen@newsobahrain.com

Raising the job reservation for people with disabilities from 2% to 4% could jeopardize the system, as there are currently not enough applicants for the available positions.

Shura Council members who proposed increasing job quotas for this sector received this response from the government.

The government has warned them that allocating 4% of government jobs for disabled workers might have unintended consequences.

Reasons: The number of unfilled positions reported exceeds the number of available disabled job seekers.

This could lead to many vacancies, preventing other eligible citizens from applying. However, Shura members argue that this perspective overlooks the significant barriers faced by disabled job seekers.

They say by framing the situation as one of surplus vacancies rather than a lack of effort to hire disabled individuals, the government implies that the current system is fulfilling its obligations.

The proposal

Shura members aimed to raise the reservation for disabled individuals from 2% to 4% in firms with 50 or more workers.

However, officials stated that the proposal is already addressed under Law No. 74 of 2006, which focuses on the care, rehabilitation, and employment of people with disabilities. This law is also part of the national disability strategy’s action plan for 2023-2027.

The explanation

Officials point out that the proposal is unnecessary, as “many jobs designated for people with disabilities remain vacant” in the private sector.

Some jobs are reserved, while others are available depending on the alignment of an applicant’s qualifications with job requirements and mutual agreement between both parties.

Officials also object to an amendment to Article 12, which would require the Labour Ministry to prioritise hiring disabled individuals for specific roles.

They argue that this is in direct conflict with the Civil Service Law, which grants the Civil Service Bureau control over government jobs.

They insist that the authority to assign roles for disabled applicants should remain with the Minister of Labour.