A senior official has provided Parliament with one of the most data-heavy breakdowns yet of Bahrain’s employment system, detailing how thousands of jobseekers were processed in just four months.
Labour and Legal Affairs Minister Yousif Khalaf also outlined how the National Employment Platform screens vacancies and explained why key legal provisions on disability hiring in government have yet to be activated.
In four separate replies to parliamentary questions from MPs Abdulhakeem Al Sheno, Abdulla Al Romaihi, Mohammed Al Alawi and Mohammed Al Marafi, Mr Khalaf detailed how the ministry implemented the directive of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to offer three job opportunities to every registered jobseeker in 2025.
By December 31, 18,657 jobseekers had been offered three opportunities and attended three or more interviews at the ministry. A total of 4,746 were employed through vacancies posted on the National Employment Platform in response to the royal directive.
Vacancies leading to employment were submitted by 2,863 establishments.
Salaries for secondary level jobs ranged from BD350 to more than BD1,000 per month.
“This number does not reflect the total number employed in the private sector during this period,” Mr Khalaf clarified, noting that a jobseeker is only counted as employed once registered as insured with the Social Insurance Organisation.
The minister revealed that total registered jobseekers in 2025 reached 15,433, including 5,587 new registrants between September and December.
He rejected claims of discrepancies in unemployment figures, stressing that the data is dynamic and changes daily with new registrations and employment.
“The jobseeker’s record remains active in the ministry’s system until they are employed, even if unemployment benefits stop for legal reasons,” he said.
Responding to MPs’ concerns that jobseekers were not being properly matched, Mr Khalaf said the ministry ‘does not nominate jobseekers’.
“The jobseeker chooses the vacancy that matches his qualifications through the National Employment Platform,” he explained.
Before any vacancy is posted, the ministry verifies salary level, required qualifications, specialisation, employer details and work conditions.
“The system prevents jobseekers from applying to jobs outside their specialisation,” he said.
“If a jobseeker does not apply for vacancies for more than two months, they are called in for an orientation session and assisted in applying electronically using their eKey.
“Interviews are held inside the ministry building, with invitations sent via SMS, email, the platform and the government notifications system operated by the Information and eGovernment Authority. Interview outcomes are digitally recorded in each jobseeker’s account.”
The employment drive was carried out in co-ordination with the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and the Bahrain Chamber.
Employers hiring Bahrainis benefited from Tamkeen wage support of up to 70pc in the first year.
Support ceilings were raised to BD1,000 for graduates, BD600 for diploma holders, and BD400 for those with secondary qualifications or below.
Meanwhile, 40pc of foreign worker fees are channelled to Tamkeen to fund employment and training programmes, Mr Khalaf said.
Responding to Mr Al Marafi, the minister revealed that there were 288 registered jobseekers with disabilities, 1,589 vacancies deemed suitable or allocated to them, and 1,302 people with disabilities already employed in the private sector.
A dedicated Tamkeen programme provides wage support of 80pc for such candidates in the first year, falling to 60pc in the second year and 40pc in the third.
Of 1,455 establishments employing more than 50 workers and subject to the 2pc disability quota, 376 are compliant. A total of 375 smaller firms not legally required to abide by the rule have voluntarily hired people with disabilities, he said.
Mr Khalaf repeated that in all cases, the hiring decision rests with the jobseeker and the employer. The ministry’s role, he stressed, is to ensure transparency, verify vacancies, provide support and make the system work – not to force placements.
He will appear during Tuesday’s session to further elaborate on questions the four MPs may have.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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