THE government is keen to step up efforts to find jobs for Bahrainis in the private sector, according to a top minister.
These efforts will include attracting more job-generating investments, enhancing the attractive work environment, diversifying training and qualification policies and providing many benefits and incentives for the private sector so that Bahrainis become the first choice of employers, said Labour Minister and Labour Market Regulatory Authority chairman Jameel Humaidan.
The remarks came as the Cabinet, last Tuesday, reviewed the labour market indicators for the second half of the year.
The minister pointed out that 14,163 citizens were employed from January to June 2023, representing 71 per cent of the annual priority target included in the Economic Recovery Plan, of employing 20,000 Bahrainis annually until 2024.
“This reflects the stability of the labour market and its growth towards generating more jobs,” said Mr Humaidan.
“The number of citizens benefiting from the various training programmes amounted to 7,237 citizens, representing 72pc of the annual priority target included in the Economic Recovery Plan, of training 10,000 Bahrainis annually until 2024,” he added.
This includes the number of beneficiaries of the training programmes offered by the Labour Ministry in co-operation with the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), in addition to the training programmes in which business owners and individuals have registered directly with Tamkeen within the framework of recruiting and training citizens.
During the same period, inspection campaigns were intensified to correct the status of foreign workers within the registered employment system, said Mr Humaidan, adding that the campaigns will continue in co-operation with the relevant government agencies, praising the existing co-operation and co-ordination with the Interior Ministry.
In regards to the wages for citizens working in the private sector, Mr Humaidan said that the wages have witnessed an increase of 6.3pc compared to the second quarter of last year, especially after the launch of several initiatives aimed at increasing the level of income support and improving the level of wages of new employees in the private sector.
The minister also praised the positive co-operation of business owners with the ministry’s projects and programmes aimed at enhancing the pace of integration of citizens looking for work in various private sector establishments.
He said the Labour Ministry will be publishing an announcement in the local newspapers of the names of the companies and institutions most contributing to the employment of Bahrainis during the period from January to June 2023 – in addition to publishing the full list of names of the establishments and the numbers of employees in them on www.mlsd.gov.bh
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