Government rejects proposed national skills programme

TDT | Manama

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The Ministry of Labour and Tamkeen, the Labour Fund, have jointly rejected a parliamentary proposal for a national skills development programme aimed at preparing secondary and university graduates for the workforce.

The proposal, put forward by MPs Muneer Suroor, Ahmed Al Saloum, Bader Al Tamimi, Mohammed Al Ahmed, and Lulwa Al Rumaihi, sought to enhance graduates’ skills and place them in higher-level jobs. The MPs argued the programme was in the public interest, aiming to empower young people and equip them for the demands of the job market.

The proposal also included suggestions for modernising government systems and creating new professional platforms to attract young talent. However, the Ministry of Labour countered that the proposal’s objectives are already being addressed through existing initiatives. These include the “Opportunities” on-the-job training program, support programs for lawyers, training programs with guaranteed employment, and retraining programs for job seekers in collaboration with training institutes.

Tamkeen echoed this sentiment, highlighting its programmes designed to achieve similar goals. These include apprenticeship programmes, on-the-job training, train and place programme, jobseeker training programme, professional certification programmes, and global ready talent programme. Despite the government’s rejection, the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) voiced support for the proposal, emphasising its importance in preparing national cadres for the job market and filling roles requiring skills aligned with business needs.