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Around 99.8 per cent of permanent government employees are Bahraini citizens, it has been revealed.
Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain, who is politically responsible for the Civil Service Commission, said 35,670 Bahraini employees have permanent jobs in ministries, authorities and government institutions.
He was responding a question by Parliament’s legislative and legal affairs committee chairman Mahmood Fardan about the employment structure within the government sector.
The Shura Council will be notified of the response during its weekly session on Sunday.
According to the minister, only 0.2pc of Bahraini nationals working in these government bodies are employed on temporary contracts.
“The majority of these individuals are in the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry, occupying roles with a defined term linked to the lifespan of municipal councils,” said Mr Al Buainain.
“The remainder of temporary Bahraini employees are spread across various government entities.
“Despite their temporary status, all are covered under the Law on Pensions and Retirement Benefits for Government Employees.”
Mr Al Buainain also said that 152 Bahrainis are employed under part-time arrangements across various specialisations and entities.
“These part-time workers are often engaged to assist with supporting tasks, developmental programmes or temporary projects in several government institutions.
“Employment decisions – whether temporary, part-time or contractual (including non-Bahraini hires) – are made based on the actual operational needs of government entities,” he added.
“These decisions must comply with Civil Service standards, including job classification requirements, approved staffing structures, and allocated budgets.”
Mr Al Buainain praised the high localisation rate in government employment.
“This impressive 99.8pc Bahrainisation figure reflects our national strategy to empower citizens and ensure that public sector jobs remain a key avenue for Bahraini employment,” he said.
“We continue to uphold stringent policies that prioritise the hiring of qualified Bahrainis and only resort to external contracts when absolutely necessary.”
The commission revealed a significant 25pc decrease in the number of non-Bahraini government employees over the past five years, dropping from 7,582 in 2019 to 5,686 in 2024.
“This decline is attributed to improved co-ordination between the commission and government entities to replace expatriate workers with qualified Bahraini nationals whenever possible,” said Mr Al Buainain.
“Most remaining non-Bahraini employees are concentrated in healthcare and education sectors, particularly where specialised skills are required and suitable Bahraini candidates are not readily available.”
The minister stressed that renewal of expatriate contracts is only approved after verifying the absence of eligible Bahraini applicants.
“Before approving any contract renewal for a non-Bahraini employee, the commission ensures that no qualified Bahraini is available for the position,” he explained.
“We provide ministries with resumes of suitable Bahraini candidates to support our national employment goals.
“The commission pledges its commitment to enhancing Bahrainisation across all levels of government employment, while maintaining efficiency, service quality and institutional performance.”
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