Parliament is set to debate an urgent proposal aimed at enhancing career prospects and improving financial conditions for Bahrainis with university degrees employed in ministries, government agencies and companies affiliated with Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company.
It was submitted by five MPs, led by Strategic Thinking Bloc spokesman Khalid Bu Onk, who urged the government to grant eligible employees job grades and salaries that correspond to their academic qualifications.
Mr Bu Onk said the proposal responds to what he claims is a ‘long-standing imbalance affecting a segment of qualified Bahraini employees’.
“There are citizens with university degrees who have been serving for years in positions or grades that do not reflect their academic qualifications,” he alleged.
“This situation neither achieves job justice nor allows the state to fully benefit from the scientific and professional capabilities of its national workforce.”
He stressed that the proposal is not limited to financial considerations, but also aims to enhance institutional performance.
“When qualifications are matched with appropriate job grades, productivity improves and motivation increases,” Mr Bu Onk said. “This positively reflects on the quality of public services and strengthens job stability.”
According to the explanatory memorandum attached to the proposal, many Bahraini employees currently occupy roles ‘below their academic level, which results in under utilisation of national talent’.
The MPs argue that aligning qualifications with job grades and salaries would help correct administrative imbalances, if any, improve employees’ living standards and reinforce confidence in the public sector career path.
“This is about fairness and sustainability,” Mr Bu Onk said. “The state invests heavily in education, and it is only logical that this investment translates into proper career progression and effective use of qualified human resources.”
The proposal is expected to be discussed during the Parliament session today.
The memorandum also lists several justifications, including the negative impact of mismatched qualifications on employee morale, the need to unify appointment and promotion standards based on merit, and the importance of empowering national cadres in line with state policies.
Explaining the urgency of the proposal, the MPs warned that maintaining the status quo could lead to continued professional frustration, declining motivation and a waste of national capabilities.
If approved by Parliament, the proposal would be referred to the government for consideration.
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