Businesses take lead in training graduates

TDT | Manama

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Bahraini businesses are stepping up to transform the job market, training thousands of university graduates through a successful government programme. This proactive approach has led the government to dismiss a Shura Council draft proposal that sought to impose mandatory training on larger firms, arguing that existing laws already provide ample opportunities for workforce development. Shura’s draft aimed to legislate that businesses with fifty or more employees must provide training for graduates nominated by the Ministry of Labour. However, government officials maintain that the current legal framework adequately addresses this need, rendering the new proposal unnecessary.

A government memo outlining its views stated: ‘Our regulations are already effective. We should focus on enhancing genuine training opportunities rather than replicating what is already in place.’

Central to this framework is Article 16 of the Vocational Training Law, which requires companies to train one graduate for every fifty employees. This provision obliges employers to engage in training job seekers, allowing the minister to determine both the number of trainees and the conditions for their training.

The government argues that this article has a broader reach than the proposed law, encompassing all businesses and offering a wider range of training options. Additionally, the draft legislation suggested that the minister should establish benefits for trained graduates.

However, this requirement is already addressed in Article 10 of the Vocational Training Law, which guarantees compensation for those who do not find work, with the minister setting the amount and terms of this compensation.

The government asserts that the proposed law does not introduce anything new, as Article 16 adequately covers all necessary provisions.

Moreover, Article 4 of Law No. 57 of 2006, which established the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), mandates support for the training of Bahraini workers. Through Tamkeen’s initiatives, job seekers nominated by the Ministry of Labour receive training tailored to improve their employability. Thousands have benefited from these programmes, enhancing job prospects across various sectors.

Many participating companies are smaller operations, employing fewer than fifty individuals, with Tamkeen covering training costs.

Trainees receive stipends throughout their training, which typically lasts between six months and a year. Employers may also provide additional incentives, and eligible participants benefit from unemployment insurance.

Over 600 businesses have enrolled in the programme, with more than 250 joining this year alone. In summary, the government contends that existing laws provide robust training opportunities for job seekers across all sectors. The Ministry of Labour, alongside Tamkeen, remains dedicated to delivering essential training programmes that equip the workforce with the skills necessary for success, ultimately aiming to strengthen the Bahraini economy and workforce.