A Shura Council proposal to double the mandatory employment quota for people with disabilities in large establishments from two per cent to 4pc has been unanimously approved by MPs.
The draft bill amends provisions of Law No 74 of 2006 on the Care, Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities, requiring establishments with 50 employees or more to ensure that at least 4pc of their workforce comprises qualified persons with disabilities.
Parliament witnessed heated debate on the issue yesterday as Social Development Minister Osama Al Alawi addressed what he described as widespread misconceptions about the number of unemployed Bahrainis with disabilities.
“The claim that there are 15,000 jobseekers with disabilities is inaccurate,” the minister said.
“That figure represents all people formally registered with the ministry across all age groups – including employees, pensioners and individuals with severe disabilities. The number of actual jobseekers is far lower – slightly above 300.”
Mr Al Alawi said it was crucial to correct the figures to shape policies based on reliable data.
He added that one of the ministry’s key priorities under the National Strategy for Persons with Disabilities (2023-2027) is strengthening data accuracy.
He highlighted the ministry’s ongoing digital transformation, which includes new services such as disability registration, reassessment, physiotherapy services for children and issuing disability allowance certificates.
“This digital shift is continuous and aims to simplify access to services for people of determination,” he said.
The minister also emphasised infrastructure improvements, particularly the upcoming Integrated Disability Complex in A’ali, which he described as ‘one of the largest projects in the history of the ministry’, comprising 10 specialised buildings delivering services tailored to community needs.
“We are advancing our entire service ecosystem – legislatively, administratively and technologically – to ensure people of determination receive high-quality, sustainable support,” Mr Al Alawi said.
Meanwhile, Legal Affairs Minister and acting Labour Minister Yousif Khalaf intervened, stressing that compliance with the current 2pc quota is challenging because the number of registered jobseekers with disabilities remains limited.
“We cannot penalise companies when there are not enough jobseekers to fill the required positions, but again we are addressing those violations seriously,” the minister stated.
According to the ministry, 1,462 establishments are technically in violation, while the number of disabled jobseekers stands at just 325.
“If we do not have the coverage to meet the quota, violations will naturally appear across many establishments,” he explained, adding that employers are required to submit written explanations to the ministry if they cannot meet the quota, a mechanism also used in neighbouring GCC countries.
The debate became increasingly tense as several MPs voiced their frustration over persistent non-compliance.
First deputy speaker Abdulnabi Salman said that around 1,400 companies were not meeting the current 2pc requirement and no action was being taken against them.
Second Deputy Speaker Ahmed Qarata argued that Bahrain has 14,000 persons with disabilities, of which only 325 are unemployed, questioning why they were not all hired by the non-compliant companies.
In a memorandum, the Cabinet reiterated its position that raising the quota could strain budgets and conflict with the Civil Service Law, stating that “the current 2pc requirement is sufficient and functional.”
It pointed to evidence that job openings for persons with disabilities already exceeded the number of qualified applicants.
However, MPs and unions disagreed. Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee chairman Ahmed Al Salloom supported the increase.
“If employers can’t reach 4pc, they can write to the Labour Ministry explaining why. Other GCC countries have a 4pc quota – Bahrain should also move in that direction,” he said.
Parliament’s services committee chairman Mamdooh Al Saleh said the move promotes equality and aligns with constitutional principles.
“This is about rights, not charity – about ensuring dignified work and equal opportunity,” Mr Al Saleh said.
Despite the government’s reservations, Parliament endorsed the proposal, which has been referred to the Shura Council for review.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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