Bahrain’s labour market strategy aims to ensure that citizens remain the preferred choice for employment while still providing businesses with the flexibility to recruit foreign workers when needed, the Labour Ministry has said.
In a written reply to a question by Shura Council member Dr Ibtisam Al Dallal, the ministry outlined the foundations of the kingdom’s labour market policies and the mechanisms used to balance national employment priorities with the needs of the private sector.
Labour and Legal Affairs Minister Yousif Khalaf, who is politically responsible for the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), said the national labour market plan for 2023-2026 aims to strengthen economic growth while ensuring sustainable employment opportunities for Bahrainis.
He said government labour initiatives help reduce the cost gap between hiring Bahrainis and foreign workers.
While emphasising the priority of national employment, he also acknowledged the continued need for foreign workers in certain sectors.
The ministry said employers requesting work permits for foreign workers from abroad must now wait 21 days before approval.
During this period they are required to advertise the job locally and interview Bahraini applicants.
The government has also begun gradually increasing fees for foreign work permits.
According to the ministry, issuance and renewal fees has increased by 5pc since January 2026, rising gradually to 25pc by 2029.
Monthly permit fees will also increase progressively until reaching BD30 per month by 2029.
Domestic workers are exempt from these increases.
“The national labour market plan places the citizen at the heart of development in Bahrain,” the minister said.
“Its objective is to enhance labour market stability, raise the efficiency of the national workforce and ensure that Bahrainis remain the first choice for employment.”
Mr Khalaf said the plan also supports Bahrain’s broader government programme and economic development goals.
A central objective of the policy is ensuring that Bahrainis are prioritised in hiring decisions across all sectors.
To achieve this, the government applies Bahrainisation quotas across industries based on the level of interest among Bahraini workers in specific professions.
In some sectors considered attractive to citizens, the quotas can reach 50 per cent.
Compliance is monitored electronically through LMRA systems. Companies that fail to meet the required Bahrainisation ratios must pay an additional BD500 fee for each foreign worker permit.
Employers seeking government contracts must also meet Bahrainisation requirements.
“These measures have led many establishments to rely increasingly on the national workforce, with Bahrainisation levels in some companies exceeding 90 per cent,” Mr Khalaf said.
The government also provides financial incentives to encourage companies to hire Bahrainis through wage support programmes administered by the Labour Fund Tamkeen.
Under the scheme, 70pc of a Bahraini employee’s salary is supported in the first year, 50pc in the second year and 30pc in the third year.
Salary support ceilings have also been increased to BD800 for university graduates, BD600 for diploma holders, and BD450 for employees with secondary education or below.
Special programmes also support the employment of engineers, law graduates and newly qualified doctors and dentists.
Another pillar of the national strategy is aligning education and training outputs with labour market needs.
Mr Khalaf said the ministry works closely with Tamkeen and training institutions to provide targeted programmes for jobseekers.
Trainees receive unemployment insurance allowances of BD200 for university graduates and BD150 for non-graduates.
Training initiatives include programmes at Bahrain Polytechnic, as well as apprenticeship schemes combining theoretical training with on-the-job experience.
The government has also introduced a national employment platform that integrates job vacancies, training opportunities and labour market data.
The minister said enforcement measures have also been strengthened to combat irregular labour.
Joint inspection campaigns involving LMRA and other government agencies target employers hiring workers without permits. Violations can lead to penalties and deportation of illegal workers.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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