MORE than 100,000 job-seeking Bahrainis have found employment or received career and pay enhancements over the past 17 years at a cost of around BD2 billion.
The money has been spent and invested by Tamkeen, Bahrain’s labour fund, to finance, train and employ citizens through programmes and initiatives.
Cabinet Affairs Minister Hamad Al Malki, who is also politically responsible for Tamkeen, told MPs in writing that 118,000 Bahrainis had directly, or indirectly, benefited as a result.
He added that more than 74,000 establishments had benefited from funding over the same period.
The minister was responding to a question by MP Mohammed Al Ahmed on Tamkeen’s activities since its establishment in 2006 to the end of last year.
Money generated through the cost of work permits issued to expatriates by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) helps fund the projects. Tamkeen’s board spends 80 per cent of the revenues on its programmes and the government covers 20pc.
“Tamkeen continues to focus on national manpower, of both sexes, and making them the best and only choice for employers in the labour market,” the minister added.
“Following directives by His Majesty King Hamad, new schemes targeting 50,000 Bahrainis have been just launched.
“It comes as Tamkeen has already spent more than BD2bn since its initiation in 2006 to the end of last year – out of which 118,000 Bahrainis have benefited directly or indirectly.
“In regard to Bahraini women, 104,000 job opportunities have been found or created at a cost of more than BD208 million.
“Women have benefited from the entrepreneurship support programme for 24,000 companies owned by women, or those it has shares in, at a cost of BD250m. It has also involved getting financing from banks of around BD383m.”
He added that last year, 68pc of those enrolled in Tamkeen-supported training programmes were women, 56pc benefited from the employment skills programme and 55pc from the professional certificates programme.
“More than 51pc establishments owned by women fully or through shares have been supported last year, as well as entrepreneurs through the Riyadat financing scheme.”
Mr Al Malki said agreements signed with international institutes provided specialised training for Bahrainis in the world of technology too.
“Those programmes involved engineering apps, cybersecurity and developing iOS amongst others and, so far, this had led to 64.2pc being employed,” he said. “We are seeking to develop strategic partnerships as we continue to present Bahrainis as the first and best choice in all fields and specialisations.”
Meanwhile, in another written response presented by Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain, who is politically responsible for the Civil Service Commission, it has been revealed that there are 34,666 Bahraini civil servants currently on the government’s payroll.
“The 34,666 Bahrainis comprise 84pc of the total government workforce, while there are 6,450 expats, comprising 16pc, on temporary contracts,” said Mr Al Buainain in response to a question by MP Jalal Kadhem.
Further figures revealed that the government had employed 1,385 Bahrainis since December 12 last year and until November 1 of this year, added the minister.
“For the same period, we received 14,933 employment requests, and not necessarily from newcomers but also from those in the private sector seeking to move into government jobs, comprising 41pc of total applications,” he added.
The LMRA has also issued 55 work permits for expats to work in government jobs so far this year, the meeting heard.
In another written response, Labour Minister and LMRA board chairman Jameel Humaidan said employers’ compliance with paying expatriate workers’ fees stands at 98pc since July 2008 and until September this year.
Mr Humaidan was responding to two questions by Parliament’s public utilities and environment affairs committee vice-chairman Mohammed Al Bulooshi and MP Bassema Al Mubarak on LMRA’s payment system and the number of expats licensed for government jobs.
The government has also referred two replies from Works Minister Ibrahim Al Hawaj on questions by MPs Abdulla Al Dhaen and Hanan Fardan on upcoming infrastructure projects in their areas and others surrounding them.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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