A deadlock over a proposal to double Bahrain’s disability employment quota from two per cent to 4pc prompted the Shura Council to put the draft law on hold.
While a few members argued that poor enforcement of the existing 2pc quota and not the law itself was the real problem, a few others insisted that raising the ceiling to 4pc was necessary to meet the needs of persons with disabilities.
With divisions evident across the chamber, members voted to allow the services committee to withdraw the draft law for further study.
The amendment to Law No 74 of 2006 on the Care, Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities would require establishments with 50 or more employees to ensure at least 4pc of their workforce are qualified persons with disabilities. It also makes it mandatory for the Labour Minister, in co-ordination with other authorities, to issue a decision identifying government jobs where the disabled would be given priority.
The proposal that originated from the Shura Council was drafted by the government and unanimously approved by MPs earlier.
Services committee chairwoman Dr Jameela Al Salman yesterday said the current law already provides flexible tools to raise the quota by regulation, if justified by data.
“The challenge is not the percentage in the law, but the level of compliance on the ground,” she added. “Raising the quota without effective enforcement would only widen the gap between the legal text and reality.”
She cited findings from the National Audit Office’s 2023-2024 report showing that 1,407 private establishments employing more than 50 workers – 96pc of those eligible – were not complying with the existing two per cent requirement.
“This clearly indicates a failure of enforcement rather than a flaw in the law,” she added.
However, several members strongly opposed the committee’s recommendation to reject the bill. Public utilities and environment affairs committee chairman Dr Mohammed Ali Hassan argued that the numbers presented did not justify rejecting the amendment.
“There are around 15,000 persons with disabilities in Bahrain, yet only 280 are registered as jobseekers,” he said. “Even if the quota were doubled from two per cent to four per cent, the resulting increase in employment would amount to only a few more people. Is that really sufficient grounds to reject the law?”
Ali Al Aradi argued that when legislation targeted a vulnerable group, the opinion of that group must be binding on the legislator. He said 12 disability associations had supported the amendment and the reasons cited for rejection ‘do not logically relate to the project’.
Dr Hani Al Saati said empowering persons with disabilities was a constitutional duty, but warned that employment ratios must consider the nature of different disabilities and labour market realities.
Abdulla Al Nuaimi highlighted a recommendation from the Prince Sultan Centre for Hearing and Speech Development to classify disabilities into functional categories to improve job matching rather than simply raise quotas.
Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain said employment should be based on suitability and merit.
“Whether it is 2pc, 4pc or none, jobs are filled according to qualifications,” he said. “The 2pc requirement itself has created challenges because there are not enough qualified candidates to meet the quota in some cases.
“It could be more than 4pc within one workplace if those competing for the seats and getting them are with disabilities – while it could be none if the available vacancies disqualify them due to its nature or need.”
Social Development Minister Osama Al Alawi said updated figures showed 15,644 persons with disabilities in Bahrain, but emphasised that employment depends on appropriate job matching, qualifications and readiness.
Several members, including Sabeeka Al Fadhala and Fouad Al Hajji, questioned how the council could shift from previously approving the proposal to withdrawing it based on arguments that had not been raised earlier.
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