NEW mechanisms to employ Bahrainis and expatriates in the labour market would be drawn up, said Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Humaidan.
He revealed during Parliament’s session yesterday that promoting Bahrainis through new initiatives and schemes continues to be the focus, with 1,800 youngsters employed until last month as the labour market recovers from Covid-19.
“Announcing employment opportunities through newspapers is an initiative subject to review, but it has helped identify jobs for Bahrainis. It has also benefited expats who lost their jobs due to the pandemic,” he said.
“We are also looking for new innovative mechanisms to employ Bahrainis in decent and well-paid jobs.
“Our plan is to provide on-job training for the unemployed at firms while also making sure they are hired by the same establishment later. We have been directed by the leadership to get this scheme running, but its full-scale implementation has been hit by Covid-19.
“We have two counters for jobseekers and trainees just two metres from each other, but some people who don’t like the jobs on offer don’t opt for free training and a possibility to get employed later.
“We have found that 40pc of women listed as jobseekers work and the gap is shrinking from what it was years ago but that challenge continues due to marriage, family and acceptance issues.”
Mr Humaidan said up to 70 per cent of wages of Bahrainis in the private sector will continue to be paid by Tamkeen as part of moves to favour the local workforce.
“More than 12,000 Bahrainis benefited from Tamkeen’s wage support scheme in 2018 and 2019,” said Mr Humaidan.
“The government will continue such support through Tamkeen as we favour the labour workforce.
“Initiatives are on the way as plans and projects are revamped to prioritise Bahrainis.
“It includes developing employment programmes, increasing on-the-job training from six months to three years, and training jobseekers while being paid as workers in local establishments.”
He said 6,569 Bahrainis were trained in partnership with Tamkeen last year compared with 6,239 in 2018.
Around 500 training courses were offered in 2018 and 2019 through 83 accredited institutes.
The minister also revealed that there were 10,795 unemployed Bahrainis last year, 77pc females and 23pc males, in comparison with 8,399 unemployed in 2018.
l Bahrain’s judicial fund will be revamped to ensure swifter and safer movement online.
Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa told MPs yesterday during the Parliament session that Trustees Fund – which sees money from bail, fines, alimony, inheritance or frozen disputed accounts – will be completely digitalised with specialised Information Technology companies doing the job.
The minister also pointed out that items in the fund – most of which are low in number and value, with the exception of an expensive necklace – were being kept in a closed safe in the ministry.
He said the fund currently has BD92 million.
“The amount changes on a daily basis and there is BD35m that has just moved in and again everything is subject to withdrawal and deposit,” said Shaikh Khalifa.
“It may take two, three or 10 weeks or even a year to settle an account for whatever purpose. I am not hiding numbers and all statements can be provided to MPs,” he said.
“A new updated electronic system is on the way for the fund. Specialised companies will need six months to create a safer network and ensure cyber security, without chances of hacking or theft.”
He said the ministry was working with others in the Interior, and Finance and National Economy Ministry besides the Public Prosecution on cash transfers.
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