Bahrain: Six Mps staged a walkout yesterday after parliament vetoed a bill, which would have forced foreigners granted Bahraini passports to wait 10 years before qualifying for government jobs.
The proposal, which involved an amendment to the 2010 Civil Service Law, was defeated in narrow vote.
It had been branded “unconstitutional” by acting Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi, who argued it would result in discrimination among Bahrainis
“All services are provided for Bahrainis, whether they are original or have acquired the nationality, without differentiation and such matter shouldn’t be debated,” said Dr Al Nuaimi, who is also Education Minister.
“There are no first or second class citizens and all Bahraini passport holders are Bahrainis and have the same rights regardless of who they are.”
Parliament’s legislative and legal affairs committee had backed the campaign for the amendment, which was spearheaded by MP Abbas Al Madi.
He was one of those to take part in the walkout, but only after he denied having an agenda against Bahrainis with foreign origins.
“My house has been burnt down several times, I got attacked while going for prayers numerously for saying police martyrs should get their due honour and backing up our servicemen in Yemen, so I have nothing against naturalised Bahrainis,” he said.
“The issue is that several Bahrainis have been looking for jobs in the government for 15 years and not getting them, while someone who comes in overnight and gets the nationality has his children employed in the government.
“I didn’t say naturalised Bahrainis should not be employed anywhere, I just wanted them to complete 10 years before getting government jobs.”
However, MP Mohsin Al Bakri – whose original nationality is Yemeni – said the word “naturalised” was divisive and should be outlawed.
“The legislative and legal affairs committee mentions the word ‘naturalised’ and it is wrong because it causes division rather than promote unity and harmony,” he said.
“This word has to be outlawed and anyone using it should be punished toughly, because we are all Bahrainis.”
Parliament second vice-chairman Abdulhaleem Murad said citizens who have been granted Bahraini nationality were one of the reasons the country was able to function during strikes that accompanied unrest in 2011.
“The country could have been lost if those described as ‘naturalised’ didn’t step in and take jobs as teachers or do work in other government jobs,” he said.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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