An urgent parliamentary proposal has been submitted to tighten oversight on wage support programmes administered by Bahrain’s Labour Fund, Tamkeen, following repeated cases of fraud committed by some private sector institutions.
The proposal, spearheaded by Parliament’s services committee vice-chairman Mohammed Al Olaiwi, calls for the implementation of stricter verification procedures to ensure that only genuinely employed Bahrainis benefit from Tamkeen’s financial support.
“There is a growing pattern of abuse where some companies register Bahrainis on paper just to receive wage support from Tamkeen,” Mr Al Olaiwi said. “These individuals are not given real jobs, and in some cases, they don’t even receive the full wage support entitled to them. This is not just unethical – it is a misuse of public funds.”
The motion outlines several key recommendations to curb abuses:
- Strengthen monitoring mechanisms to confirm a genuine employer-employee relationship and assess whether companies are providing a proper work environment and opportunities for professional growth.
- Hold violators accountable, including firms that provide false information to obtain funds fraudulently.
- Safeguard public funds by ensuring Tamkeen’s support reaches the intended beneficiaries.
- Enhance employment stability for Bahraini workers.
- Curtail practices that undermine Tamkeen’s strategic objectives and credibility.
“Our goal is to make sure that Tamkeen’s support reaches real Bahrainis doing real work,” Mr Al Olaiwi added. “This kind of fraud not only wastes money but also discourages genuine efforts to empower Bahrainis in the labour market.”
The motion has been submitted to Parliament’s Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam, who forwarded it urgently to the services committee for review with the relevant authorities.
“The move reflects mounting parliamentary concern over accountability in labour funding, especially as Tamkeen plays a pivotal role in supporting national employment initiatives and economic diversification,” said Mr Al Olaiwi.
Mr Al Olaiwi stressed the urgency of the proposal, urging his fellow legislators and relevant authorities to act swiftly.
“We cannot allow a few bad actors to distort the purpose of Tamkeen and deprive deserving Bahrainis of job opportunities. This is a matter of integrity, equity and economic security.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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