SCW programme to help women opting voluntary retirement scheme

The Supreme Council for Women (SCW) has launched a national programme to help women who benefited from the optional retirement scheme.

The National Guidance Programme for Bahraini Women aims to help those who want to make a smooth transition from the public sector to the private sector or entrepreneurship field.  The scheme aims to maintain women’s sustainable contribution to the national economy, switch safely to the private sector, encourage innovative entrepreneurship projects and explore labour market potential opportunities. 

The programme was endorsed during the third meeting which was held on December 10, 2018, chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King and SCW President.  “The programme aims at supporting the fiscal balance initiative, which was launched by the Government,” said SCW Secretary-General Hala Al Ansari, citing the Optional Retirement Scheme.

A network of guides would be set up as part of the SCW programme, which includes also workshops and specialised career expo. The scheme will also highlight success stories and outline opportunities available in the economic sectors.  Labour and Social Development Ministry Undersecretary Sabah Salem Al Dosari commended the programme, which will provide an adequate platform that creates work opportunities. Industry, Commerce and Tourism Undersecretary for Trade Affairs Nader Almoayyed said that the national guidance programme would increase the number of women entrepreneur in the private sector.

He said that the ministry would spare no efforts to facilitate the establishment of companies, the issuance of commercial registers, whether conventionally or online, including government employees who retired optionally.  Citing official statistics, he said that Bahraini women hold 50 per cent of the overall number of the commercial registers issued by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism.

Bahraini Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) First Deputy Chairman Khalid Mohammed Najibi expressed BCCI readiness to support the SCW-led programme to co-opt newly-retired women. He announced that the chamber would reach out to all private sector establishments, inform them about the new scheme, hold forums, induction and training programmes and engage them career expos.

The meeting was also attended by the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Janahi, the General Organisation for Social Insurance (GOSI) CEO Eman Mustafa Al Murbati and Economic Development (EDB) representatives.