Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Responds to Inquiry on New Job Entrants

TDT | Manama                                                      

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The Minister of the Council of Representatives and the Shura Council Affairs, Ghanim bin Fadhl Al Buainain, has commented on a proposal submitted by several MPs in the previous session, requesting the ministry to disclose the number of new employees entering the job market, excluding those transferring from other jobs. The minister described the government's response as clear and balanced.

The MPs involved in the proposal were Mohammed Al Ahmed, Mohammed Al Rifaie, Abdullah Al Dhaen, Basma Mubarak, and Eman Shuwaiter. The proposal's explanatory memorandum aims to provide a clearer picture of unemployment and employment figures, specifically detailing the number of registered unemployed individuals who found work under the Ministry's supervision, separate from those who transferred from other jobs. 

MP Mohammed Al Ahmed stated that the proposal arose from a perceived lack of precision in unemployment and employment data, highlighting the absence of clear figures on the number of unemployed individuals employed under the Ministry of Labour's supervision. 

He argued that this lack of clarity affects the accuracy of Bahrain's unemployment rate. Al Ahmed stressed the importance of the Ministry disclosing the number of registered unemployed individuals employed, excluding those who transitioned from other jobs, to ascertain the true employment figures.

Minister Al Buainain clarified that approximately 8,924 new employees entered the Bahraini job market in 2023 who had not previously held a job. This represents 30% of the total number of individuals who secured employment opportunities in the Kingdom.

He emphasised that the remaining 70% of those employed last year were from other categories, including those transferring from other jobs, who benefited from various employment opportunities. The Minister's response has been already documented in a letter signed by him and sent to the Parliament in July 2024.