Public jobs only for citizens: MPs

Manama: No expats should be employed in the government sector in case qualified Bahraini candidates are available, a group of MPs said.

MP Jameela Al Sammak and four other MPs submitted a proposal seeking to hire more Bahrainis in the public sector.

This comes less than a month after another MP suggested sacking 50 per cent of the existing non-Bahraini workforce in the government sector once their contracts are expired, to “give Bahraini job seekers a chance.”

Along with Al Sammak were MPs Jalal Kadhem, Hamad Al Dossary, Khalid Al Shaer and Adel Al Assoomy. They presented the proposal yesterday to the council’s Speaker Ahmed Al Mulla.

The MPs explained in a short note that “the proposal is an effective solution to reduce unemployment rates among Bahrainis.”

“Within the many efforts taken to eliminate unemployment, not hiring non-Bahrainis in public jobs, especially when Bahraini competencies are available, will contribute in reducing unemployment,” the MPs said.

They also quoted articles 13/B and 16/A of the Kingdom’s constitution, which states, “The State shall ensure that work is made available to the citizens and that its terms are equitable. Public jobs are a national service entrusted to their incumbents, and State employees shall have the public interest in mind when performing their jobs. Foreigners shall not be entrusted with public posts except in those cases specified by law.”

DT News reported on February 10 that MP Kadhem called for not renewing work contracts of expats working in governmental institutions.

“There are around 2,500 expats who were employed in the government sector during the past three years,” he said back then.