A total of 35,670 Bahrainis have permanent jobs in ministries and government agencies, a minister has said.
They constitute 99.8 per cent of the Bahraini workforce in the sector, which has witnessed a 25pc decline in expat hiring over the last seven years.
Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain, who is politically responsible for the Civil Service Commission, said in writing that 83 Bahrainis are employed on a temporary basis, comprising just 0.2pc of the total.
He added that 152 citizens are engaged on a part-time basis, filling various specialised positions across government agencies to support specific projects or tasks.
The minister disclosed the statistics on employment across government ministries, agencies and institutions, reaffirming commitment to the development of national workforce and gradual reduction of expatriate labour in the public sector.
The official response was issued following a question submitted by Parliament’s legislative and legal affairs committee chairman Mahmood Fardan, who sought clarity on the number of employees in all government entities.
Mr Al Buainain highlighted the high rate of Bahraini employment in the sector.
“This data reflects the government’s unwavering commitment to the Bahrainisation policy, ensuring that our citizens occupy the vast majority of public sector roles,” Mr Al Buainain said.
“The number of non-Bahraini employees under contract in ministries and government entities has decreased to 5,686, marking a 25pc decline from 7,582 in 2019.
“We have made significant strides in reducing dependence on foreign labour in the government sector, without compromising the quality or continuity of services. This was achieved by prioritising qualified Bahraini candidates whenever vacancies arose.”
Mr Al Buainain clarified that the majority of non-Bahraini employees were concentrated in the medical, health and education sectors, with 31.5pc serving in healthcare roles and 59pc in education and higher education institutions.
“The remaining 9.5pc are spread across other sectors,” he added.
He explained that renewal of contracts for expatriate employees was contingent on the absence of qualified Bahraini candidates.
“When a government agency requests a contract renewal, the Civil Service Commission shares a list of qualified Bahrainis with them,” said Mr Al Buainain.
“An expat’s contract is renewed only if no citizens are available for the role.
“Furthermore, a clause mandating on-the-job training of Bahraini employees is embedded within every expat employment contract.
“Training Bahrainis is a core obligation of every expatriate employee. This is integral to our long-term strategy to empower national cadres and prepare them to assume key roles in government services.”
He reaffirmed that all employment types – permanent, temporary, part-time and contractual – are subject to civil service regulations and oversight, with decisions made based on organisational needs and within approved budgetary frameworks.
“Employment flexibility must be balanced with regulatory compliance and fiscal responsibility,” Mr Al Buainain said.
“Every position must adhere to the approved job description, organisational structure and budget ceiling.”
Mr Al Buainain stressed that employment policies aim to strike a balance between meeting operational needs and promoting national competencies.
“We remain committed to nurturing a capable and qualified Bahraini workforce, ensuring sustainability, service excellence and national development,” he said.
“There is a continued drive towards workforce localisation, while maintaining the necessary flexibility to uphold government operations and service delivery across sectors.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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