A TOTAL of 22,740 Bahrainis found jobs in the private sector between January and October last year.
Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Humaidan told MPs that 7,681 citizens were employed through electronic job fairs.
This compares with 19,221 Bahrainis employed in 2020 – of which 5,210 were employed through e-job fairs.
“There are currently 17,431 job-seekers registered under the ministry’s list,” said the minister.
“We saw 11,000 job-seekers register in 2020 and 13,000 from January until October 2021.
Training
“Jobs are picking up as we gradually recover from the pandemic and we are working to clear our list by finding appropriate work and pay for Bahrainis,” he added in response to a question by MP Dr Abdulla Al Thawadi on employment statistics.
He also revealed that 18,909 Bahrainis had received training through numerous programmes from December 2018 until October 2021 – of which 10,918 got jobs.
“Out of the 10,918 Bahrainis, around 22pc were employed in the retail sector, 15pc in manufacturing, 13pc in construction, 10pc in administrative and support departments, 9.8pc in technical vocations, 8.2pc in hospitality, 5.9pc in education and training, 5.2pc in IT and telecommunications, 4.3pc in banking and insurance sectors, 3.1pc in health, 2pc in logistics, 1pc in social services and 0.5pc in the real estate sectors,” explained the minister.
“The ministry supports up to 70pc of BD600 maximum wage.
“Employed university graduates get a minimum of BD450 a month, diploma holders BD380, and secondary graduates and below BD300.”
He added that free-of-charge training programmes were being offered in partnership with Tamkeen at 80 registered institutes for jobseekers.
Meanwhile, the minister also said that 11 insurance companies have started providing non-compulsory insurance for housemaids, that includes compensation for sponsors of runaways.
“Since 2019 we have found 540 runaways,” said the minister, in response to a question by MP Fatima Al Qatari.
“From January until October last year it was 144, in 2020 it was 143 and in 2019 it was 253.”
Meanwhile, Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain, who is politically responsible for the Civil Service Commission, said 270 advisers were employed by ministries and government bodies.
“A total of 195 are Bahrainis out of which six were hired as they were nearing the retirement age while 12 are on part-time contracts,” said Mr Al Buainain.
“A total of 75 expats are on temporary contracts and provide consultancy in rare specialisations,” Mr Al Buainain said in a written response to a question by public utilities and environment affairs committee chairman Khalid Bu Onk on advisers in government jobs.
Mr Humaidan and Mr Al Buainain are set to appear during Tuesday’s weekly session to give further feedback.
Meanwhile, Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said BD5.838 million has been spent on compensating shrimpers and buying their equipment.
Shaikh Khalid, who is also the head of the Ministerial Committee for Developmental Projects and Infrastructure, added that 276 trawling licences were issued in 2019.
“We reached deals with 56 shrimpers for compensations of up to BD30,000 and bought their dhows and equipment, which was later sold by Mazad or taken for different purposes by ministries and government bodies, while shifting their licences to general fishing,” said the Deputy Premier.
“The remaining 220 were cancelled through a Cabinet decision. There are no plans to allow trawling in future as the ban has helped protect the seabed. It has also allowed the fishing stocks to replenish.”
The Premier and Deputy Premiers are not obliged to appear in session.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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