Parliament to debate proposal for national employment strategy

TDT | Manama

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On Tuesday, Parliament will debate a proposal for a national employment strategy designed to further integrate Bahrainis into the workforce. This comes as part of a broader push to create more local job opportunities, which has already resulted in 5,400 Bahrainis securing jobs and another 4,900 benefiting from Tamkeen's training programs.

The Joint Committee, which includes members of the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee and the Services Committee, has given its full support to the proposal, stating that it aligns with the country’s long-term goals of strengthening the labour market and ensuring that Bahrainis have priority in employment opportunities.

The Civil Service Bureau, responsible for government hiring, has pointed out that public sector hiring practices already prioritise Bahrainis. Expats are only hired when qualified local candidates are unavailable. Additionally, foreign workers in the public sector are required to train Bahraini colleagues before their contracts end, ensuring that skills are transferred and that Bahrainis are ready for more senior roles. The Bureau monitors hiring trends and training initiatives to ensure that Bahrainis are being prepared for leadership positions.

The Ministry of Labour, which oversees the private sector, has emphasized that it is already implementing measures to prioritise Bahraini workers. It has referenced several government initiatives, such as the Government Action Plan for 2023-2026, the Economic Recovery Plan from 2021, and the National Labour Market Plan, all of which aim to boost local employment. However, the Ministry also stresses the importance of maintaining an open and competitive job market to attract foreign investment. Efforts to incentivise companies to hire more Bahrainis, such as wage support and training programmes, are already in place.

Tamkeen, the government agency responsible for Bahrain's employment and training schemes, has played a key role in these initiatives. It has already helped more than 5,400 Bahrainis secure jobs and trained nearly 4,900 individuals. Programs such as wage subsidies, leadership courses, and job-matching services are helping Bahrainis become more competitive in the job market.

The proposal, put forward by MPs Second Deputy Speaker Ahmed Qarata, Jameel Mulla Hassan, Mohammed Al Olaiwi, Hisham Al Awadhi, and Mohammed Al Rifai, calls for a more structured approach to shifting jobs to Bahrainis in a way that ensures the public interest is served. The proposal has been met with no opposition from the committee, which views it as a necessary step towards achieving a more sustainable and locally-focused labour market.