‘Women hold half of senior government jobs in Bahrain’

TDT | Manama                                                                         

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Women hold around 47% of the leadership positions in the Bahrain government, said a new report attributing the success to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

The report also points out that Bahrain has made major strides in promoting equal rights, even since Kingdom amended its constitution in 2022.

Now Bahrain, Jerusalem Post said, has four women cabinet ministers, 11 undersecretaries, 30 assistant undersecretaries and 12 judges.

The report also points out that 56% of the employees in the Government sector and 35% in the private sector are women.

"They also run 42% of the commercial operations in the country." The report further said that the unemployment rate among nearly 700,000 citizens is 5.7%.

"There are about 15,000 job seekers in Bahrain, of whom 76% are women," the report added. Jerusalem Post, citing statistics by the Media Line, points out the average age of Bahraini women for marriage as 24.

The report also hails Bahrain as the only Arab country where the proportion of births under medical supervision is 99.7%, where 100% of women enrol in primary, preparatory and secondary education. Women also hold 63% of postgraduate degrees.

The report further states that the Supreme Council for Women was instrumental in women receiving many benefits related to vacations and a ban on working at night. The Supreme Council for Women has mandated that all government agencies establish Equal Opportunity Committees to promote equality between the genders.

“I am divorced, and I have two children, and because of the Supreme Council for Women, I was able to stand on my own feet. There is no longer an inferior view of divorced women in Bahraini society,” The Media Line quoted Zahra Al Hamrani, a tour guide.

“There are no legislations in Bahrain that pass without consulting the Supreme Council for Women, in addition to their amendments that are in the interest of women,” the report added, quoting Member of Parliament Fatima Al Qatari.