IMPROPER policies regulating the Bahrainisation drive and the expat labour force are some of the allegations directed at a government minister.
Eighteen MPs have submitted a request to formally question Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Humaidan, who is also the board chairman of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), over alleged violations in the labour market.
They have accused him of having no proper vision for Bahrainisation within the private sector and for ratifying the Flexible Work Permit scheme without being referenced in any existing or new law.
In their request to grill the minister on the chamber floor, the MPs also claimed Mr Humaidan has not drawn up a two-year work plan for the LMRA since taking charge in 2011, which they said has led to random decisions being taken, affecting the labour market.
However, in a previous Parliament session, Mr Humaidan defended actions taken by the LMRA, explaining that the authority presented its plans as part of a comprehensive approach alongside other ministries and government bodies.
The request was presented to Parliament chairwoman Fouzia Zainal yesterday and if considered for review by a special panel – consisting of chairmen of Parliament’s committees – then it will be listed for a vote at an upcoming session.
Twenty-seven of Bahrain’s 40 MPs need to vote in favour of the request for it to pass.
“The labour market is in a mess and that’s because we have a minister who for the past nine years did not carry out any significant improvement to the labour market or the Bahrainisation drive,” said MP Khaled Bu Onk, who is spearheading the move.
“Bahrainisation in the private sector is stagnant, in the range between 16pc to 20pc, which is extremely low as it was 19.38pc in 2014 and 17.30pc in 2018.
“There is no plan within the LMRA since the minister took charge and the excuse that it is part of something comprehensive that the government does as a whole is wrong because each body is separate and needs to set up its own targets and achieve them as part of a full picture.
“Without such a plan came the flexi-permit for expats which made things worse – this was done through a decision by the LMRA and not through law.”
The GDN reported last month that the Flexible Work Permit scheme, which allows undocumented workers to sponsor themselves, has witnessed more than 30,000 people sign up since 2017.
Yesterday’s request comes two weeks after Parliament concluded its probe into Bahrainisation in the private and public sectors and recommended action against six ministers for alleged violations, including Mr Humaidan.
The probe report also recommended increasing Bahrainisation to at least 90pc in semi-government companies, cancelling the flexi-permit, increasing Bahrainisation at private medical facilities to 50pc, and allocating a special budget for full Bahrainisation in the public sector.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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