There were no takers for 5,085 jobs in Bahrain last year, it has emerged.
Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Humaidan indicated that the roles did not appeal to Bahrainis, though 15,182 citizens on the government’s employment bank failed to land a job in 2021.
He told MPs in writing that the ministry, however, managed to employ 26,344 Bahrainis by the year-end.
“Around 105,000 job advertisements were placed in the local Press throughout 2021,” Mr Humaidan said.
“We found 5,205 jobs that would appeal to Bahrainis and had 3,785 of them taken up by citizens.
“Despite this, 15,182 Bahrainis remained jobless while our bank had 5,085 jobs for which there were no takers.”
The minister added that employers have been given a Bahrainisation quota to abide by while recruiting people.
However, if there is a percentage imbalance, the employer is forced to pay BD500 besides the regular annual labour fees per expat worker, towards Tamkeen.
Mr Humaidan said, in a written response to another question by Parliament Speaker Fouzia Zainal, that work is ongoing to prepare the 2023-2027 employment strategy.
“The current plan for 2021-2023 is already effective despite it being moved from the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) to the ministry,” said Mr Humaidan, who is also LMRA board chairman.
“We are working with those concerned to draw up the new plan, which is in line with set targets for employment and training.
“The commitment so far is to have 20,000 employed and 10,000 trained yearly until the end of 2026.”
Meanwhile, Mr Humaidan also revealed that the country had 25,146 active flexi permit holders until February this year.
He added that from January 2019 until December 2021, BD53.26 million had been collected from the permit.
Meanwhile, Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain, who is politically responsible for the Civil Service Commission, said in a written response that expats were mostly recruited during the pandemic to help with health duties.
“Civil service jobs are reserved for Bahrainis and they will continue to receive priority,” Mr Al Buainain pointed out.
“The circumstances the country was going through due to the pandemic pushed us to employ expats in health jobs on temporary contracts.
There are only 87 Bahrainis on temporary contracts employed at ministries and government bodies.”
Mr Al Buainain also responded in writing to a question on cash awards for teachers under the Education Ministry, who work longer hours, saying it was not the commission’s duties.
Meanwhile, Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Kamal Ahmed, who is politically responsible for Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, said in a written response that Khairat Al Bahrain had opened an office in Khartoum to oversee operations in the agricultural land granted by the Sudanese government.
“Work to complete all necessary operational procedures is ongoing, while we continue long-term feasibility studies on the 400sqkm land.”
All three ministers are set to appear during Parliament’s weekly session on Tuesday.
&uuid=(email))