A PARLIAMENTARY inquiry has been launched into government moves to provide jobs for expats who have been sacked as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The services committee has sent a request to Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) chief executive Ausamah Al Absi to appear before a parliamentary panel to respond to what it claims are clear violations to the labour law.
It is referring to an online portal, talentportal.bh, launched on Sunday by the LMRA to connect employers in the private sector with jobseekers of different nationalities.
Mr Al Absi told the GDN at the time that the platform will help utilise the expat labour force present in Bahrain, including undocumented workers.
In addition to the inquiry, an urgent proposal to dedicate the newly launched government portal for Bahraini jobseekers was also submitted yesterday.
The proposal was presented by five MPs, spearheaded by services committee chairman MP Mamdooh Al Saleh, and referred to Parliament chairwoman Fouzia Zainal.
“Jobs are for Bahrainis and not expats and advertising jobs for expats is against the law,” said Mr Al Saleh.
“When the Indian Club did a career expo a few months back we conducted an investigation with the Labour and Social Development Ministry and legal action was taken against all of those involved.
“Now, a government body that should know better is pushing to get jobs for expats – we can’t remain silent as thousands of Bahrainis are expected to face the heat next month when the three-month government support for the private sector ends.”
However, Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Humaidan denied claims last week of an imminent wave of mass layoffs in the private sector, once the government support to companies ends this month.
Mr Al Absi also told the GDN previously that an average of 6,000 foreign workers lost their jobs in March and April due to the impact of the pandemic on businesses.
MP Khalid Bu Onk, who has signed his name on the parliamentary proposal, also accused officials of not adhering to government plans to increase Bahrainisation levels in the private sector.
“Bahrainisation of jobs in the government or private sector is a government commitment, unfortunately, it is just talk as this online portal clearly shows the opposite,” he said.
“We are in a situation right now that we are fighting for the jobs of Bahrainis and then this nonsense comes our way.
“This has to end and serious action against those involved have to be taken.”
This comes on the heels of a year-long probe into national employment levels, which Parliament debated in February and demanded an increase of Bahrainisation to at least 90pc in semi-government companies, along with cancelling the flexi-work permit, increasing Bahrainisation at private medical facilities to 50pc, and allocating a special budget for full Bahrainisation in the public sector.
On Sunday Parliament also forwarded to the government an urgent proposal to extend government support for the private sector for three more months to help individuals and businesses as uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic continues.
The government is currently paying wages for private sector employees along with bus and taxi drivers and kindergarten teachers for April, May and June.
It has also exempted everyone from paying electricity and water bills and waived municipal, tourism and labour fees for the same period.
All rents of government property for the three months have also been dropped.
Grants worth between BD1,050 and BD12,000 for affected businesses have also been distributed through Tamkeen. Others were given low interest loans under the Liquidity Fund, which has been doubled from BD100m to BD200m.
Bank loan installments for Bahrainis have also been deferred for six months.
This is all part of the BD4.3 billion government support package to offset the impact of the pandemic.
l Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Humaidan stressed the importance of maintaining the national workforce and developing them professionally to ensure the sustained success of companies and establishments.
He pointed out that investing in the national workforce is a gain for business owners, being the real asset and the main contributors to the continuous progress of the private sector.
The minister made the statements during his meeting with MPs Abdulla Al Thawadi and Salman Al Maliki.
He discussed co-operation between the executive and legislative branches, as well as efforts of the Labour Ministry to maintain employment rates to address challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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