Government rejects national observatory proposal, Emphasises ‘Skills Bahrain’

TDT | Manama                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

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A parliamentary proposal to establish a “National Observatory” for Bahrainising jobs was rejected, citing the ongoing development of the “Skills Bahrain” initiative. This project, which is funded by the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), is being implemented by the Information and eGovernment Authority.

It is important to note that the proposal was put forward by MP Mohammed Al Hussaini, who lost his parliamentary seat in July 2023. He had called for the government to take the necessary legal steps to establish the observatory and its governing regulations.

Skills Bahrain: A Central Employment Platform

The government deemed the proposal redundant, stating that “Skills Bahrain” is an employment platform under development in collaboration with both public and private sector companies.

Once launched, this project will serve both job seekers and employers by acting as a central database that contains information on job seekers’ qualifications, specialisations, and experience, as well as available vacancies, national employment and training processes, and unemployment benefits.

The platform will provide comprehensive data on essential skills and job requirements, which will inform future policies for government institutions and higher education establishments, thereby enhancing educational outcomes to meet labour market needs.

Additionally, the system will generate various reports required for domestic and international purposes, the government underscored.

Aligning Education with Market Needs

The Ministry of Labour is currently finalising a project to establish professional levels and skill assessments for issuing professional licenses.

“This aims to regulate professions within the labour market and establish professional standards,” the government stated.

Furthermore, a collaborative effort is underway to align university curricula with labour market demands, involving the Ministry of Education, the Higher Education Council, and the University of Bahrain.

This initiative focuses on in-demand specialisations and addresses challenges faced by graduates in specific fields.

“The Ministry of Labour is also working with the Ministry of Education to encourage the integration of new school graduates into vocational education and training programmes.

Experienced mentors will guide and train students and job seekers, while training courses will be provided for educators at various levels,” the government pointed out.

Al Hussaini argued that the observatory would monitor current and potential job opportunities in both the public and private sectors, providing accurate and up-to-date data and recommendations to policymakers.