18 lawmakers 'seek nod' to quiz Labour Minister

TDT/Manama

A group of lawmakers is planning to quiz several ministers with regard to the existing low Bahrainisation rates in public and private sectors, Tribune has learnt.

Starting this chain of interpellations, 18 MPs yesterday submitted a request to the presidency of the Council of Representatives, to interpellate Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Humaidan.

The move comes few weeks after a special parliamentary committee, which was earlier formed to investigate the rates of Bahrainisation in both sectors, recommended the interpellation of several ministers for their alleged “unsatisfying” performance with regards to the matter.

A copy of the interpellation request form was leaked to the Internet and showed that the minister will be questioned about the ministry's violations regarding setting a national plan for the labour market and on the flexible work permits (Flexi Permits).

The 18 MPs were spearheaded by Ibrahim Al Nafee’ee and include First Deputy Speaker of the House Abdulnabi Salman, Mohammed Al Abbasi, Zainab Abdulameer, Hamad Al Kooheji, Khalid Buanq, Mohammed Buhamood, Ahmed Al Damistani, Sayed Falah Hashim, Abdulla Al Thawadi, Yousif Al Thawady, Ammar Abbas, Bassim Al Maliki, Hesham Al Asheeri, Isa Al Qady, Ammar Al Bannai and Adel Al Assoomy.     

The Parliamentarians believe that the Flexi Visa System and Parallel Bahrainisation have made it difficult for Bahrainis to find jobs. 

A Parliamentary committee is of the view that Bahrainisation in the private sector and public sector has not reached adequate levels.

The Flexi Permit, a Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) initiative allowing foreign workers to sponsor themselves, has come under severe criticism from MPs.

According to sources, the committee may submit the final report on Bahrainisation on December 28. 

Recently, a proposal was approved in the Parliament that aims to limit certain professions in the private sector to only Bahrainis.

MPs claimed that most high and middle level posts in the private sector is going to expatriates, causing Bahrainis to miss out on lucrative opportunities.

They called for a law to be enacted, which would restrict certain private sector jobs to just Bahrainis. 

The lawmakers stated that majority of the jobs in the private sector are going to expatriates, while Bahrainis are struggling to get jobs.

According to them, the existing initiatives to reduce unemployment among Bahrainis is not enough.    

The MPs pointed out experience of Oman in implementing such a restriction.

Oman has stopped issuing visa for expats for 87 jobs since past two years. Information and Technology, Accounting and Finance, Marketing and Sales, Administration and Human Resources, Insurance, Information/Media Professions, Medical Professions, Airport Professions, Engineering Professions, Technical Professions were some of the areas affected in Oman.

The number of Bahrainis in the Kingdom reached 677,000 this year, constituting 45 per cent of the population, while there are 823,000 expatriates living here (55pc of total population).

The data reveals that the number of expatriates has been growing substantially with over 64,000 foreigners arriving last year alone.

The number of Bahrainis rose only by 12,000 last year when compared to 2016 numbers.