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A total of 11,452 citizens were benefiting from unemployment support as of last month, according to Legal Affairs Minister and acting Labour Minister Yousif Khalaf.
Of these, 3,479 have been receiving benefits for less than a year, 6,258 for between one and five years and 1,715 for more than five years.
Unemployed university graduates with a bachelor’s degree receive BD200 a month while others take home BD150.
Dismissed or laid off workers get up to BD1,000 monthly or 60 per cent of the wage, whichever is higher.
The payments are discontinued once they find new jobs.
The figures were revealed in a written response to a parliamentary question submitted by Strategic Thinking Bloc spokesman MP Khalid Bu Onk on unemployment benefits, job placements and the implementation of the recent Royal directive to offer three employment opportunities to every job seeker before the end of the year.
The response provided updated statistics and clarified the ministry’s policies and procedures governing unemployment support.
Mr Khalaf emphasised that these figures fluctuate constantly as new job-seekers register and others exit eligibility.
“The number of beneficiaries changes daily based on new registrations and the enforcement of eligibility requirements under the Unemployment Insurance Law,” he said.
Addressing the issue of job opportunities offered to long-term beneficiaries, he clarified that the ministry does not directly nominate them for roles.
“The ministry does not nominate or contact seekers to place them in jobs,” Mr Khalaf explained.
“Employers post their vacancies on the National Employment Platform, and job-seekers apply electronically to positions that match their qualifications.”
He added that if citizens do not apply for suitable vacancies, the system guides them towards jobs aligned with their qualifications.
Persistent non-application results in an orientation interview at the ministry.
Mr Khalaf noted that beneficiaries receiving assistance for more than five years must not have declined job offers, as rejecting two opportunities would immediately forfeit their eligibility for payouts under Article 24 of the law.
“If they are still receiving benefits, it means no verified rejections occurred,” Mr Khalaf stated.
He stressed that the ministry has no policy aimed at reducing the number of beneficiaries.
“The ministry has no plans or mechanisms to reduce the number of citizens eligible for benefits,” Mr Khalaf said.
“We remain fully committed to implementing the Unemployment Insurance Law and ensuring that job-seekers are genuinely seeking employment and integrating into the labour market.”
Following the directive issued on September 28 by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the ministry has launched an accelerated plan to provide three employment opportunities to every registered job-seeker before year-end.
Mr Khalaf detailed extensive co-ordination with Tamkeen, the Labour Market Regulatory Authority and the Bahrain Chamber.
“We intensified vacancy generation efforts, expanded interview capacity, extended working hours from 7am to 7pm, and doubled the number of staff dedicated to supporting job-seekers,” he said.
The National Employment Platform’s capacity has also been upgraded to handle increased traffic.
The minister rejected claims that job-seekers’ files are closed if jobs do not match their qualifications.
“There is no such concept as closing a file,” Mr Khalaf clarified. “Job-seekers remain in the system until they are hired and registered with the Social Insurance Organisation.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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