A group of Bahraini legislators has proposed the formation of an inter-ministerial administrative committee tasked with verifying the academic and professional qualifications of foreign workers before their employment in the kingdom.
Its members say the move will ‘safeguard the integrity of Bahrain’s labour market and maintain the quality of public and private services’.
The proposal, submitted by five MPs led by Mohammed Hussain Janahi, has been referred by Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam to the services committee for review.
According to the proposal’s explanatory memorandum, the increasing number of expatriate workers in various sectors in Bahrain highlights the need to ensure that their credentials are genuine and officially recognised. The move comes in light of documented cases of forged or fraudulent qualifications being used to secure employment in the country.
“This proposal is not about creating hurdles for foreign workers,” said Mr Janahi. “It’s about protecting Bahrain’s institutions, its residents, and the reputation of the labour market by ensuring that every worker hired is truly qualified for the role they are taking on.”
The legislators are calling for the establishment of a joint administrative committee composed of representatives from the Labour Ministry, Education Ministry and the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA). The committee’s core responsibility would be to verify the authenticity of foreign workers’ credentials before they are permitted to start work in the country.
As part of the initiative, the committee would also oversee the creation of a centralised database linking all relevant government agencies, allowing for real-time access to verified qualifications and improved inter-agency co-ordination.
“We envision a centralised verification system that prevents unqualified individuals from slipping through the cracks,” Mr Janahi explained. “It’s a proactive step towards building a smarter, safer and more reliable workforce.”
The proposal’s backers believe that such a system will not only help reduce the risks associated with unqualified individuals taking on critical roles – especially in sensitive sectors such as healthcare, education and engineering – but will also strengthen public trust in the expatriate workforce.
“We’ve seen cases where individuals were hired based on falsified degrees or experience,” Mr Janahi said. “This undermines public confidence and can lead to serious consequences, especially in sectors where lives and livelihoods are at stake.”
He added that the committee’s work would also serve to enhance Bahrain’s international reputation as a country that values transparency, accountability and high professional standards.
The MPs behind the proposal argue that implementing this kind of credential verification aligns with Bahrain’s broader economic vision and national workforce development goals.
By ensuring that only genuinely qualified professionals are hired, the country can elevate service quality across industries and ensure better outcomes for both businesses and consumers.
“Bahrain is competing on a global stage,” said Mr Janahi. “We need to ensure that every person working in our hospitals, schools and on construction sites has earned their place – not through falsification, but through merit and verified achievement.”
The services committee will now study the proposal and prepare a report for further discussion in the chamber.
If approved, the government would be called upon to begin establishing the proposed administrative structure and digital infrastructure.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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