Around 3,900 new employees have been appointed across Bahrain’s ministries, authorities and government institutions since January 2023, with Bahrainis accounting for 95 per cent of the new recruits.
The figures were revealed in a written response by Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain, who is politically responsible for the Civil Service Commission, following a question by MP Dr Hisham Al Asheeri.
Mr Al Buainain said the data reflected the government’s sustained commitment to Bahrainisation, equal opportunity and merit-based recruitment, while ensuring the continuity and quality of public services.
“Employment in the civil service is fundamentally for Bahraini citizens,” he stressed.
“Non-Bahraini recruitment is limited to temporary contracts and only applied when no qualified Bahraini candidate is available, in accordance with the law.”
According to the Civil Service Commission, a total of 3,884 employees have been appointed since January 2023.
Of these appointments, 2,850 were in the medical, health, education and higher education sectors, where Bahrainis made up 93pc of new hires.
Mr Al Buainain noted that specialised fields – particularly in healthcare – sometimes require overseas expertise on a temporary basis.
“These include consultant physicians, intensive care specialists, genomics experts, aviation safety professionals and highly technical engineering roles,” he explained.
“In all such cases, there is a clear requirement to transfer knowledge and train Bahraini staff.”
One of the most striking trends highlighted in the response was the steady decline in non-Bahraini civil servants.
Their number has dropped from 7,582 in 2019 to 5,361 currently, representing a 29pc reduction.
The minister outlined the strict legal and administrative framework governing public sector recruitment under the 2010 Civil Service Law.
Appointments are made only when there is a verified vacancy within an approved organisational structure and budget ceiling.
To enhance transparency and fairness, the Civil Service Commission oversees vacancy announcements, interviews and selection procedures, while government entities remain responsible for identifying their staffing needs.
Since January 2023, 486 internal vacancy announcements were published through the ‘Government Employee’ application, in line with a Cabinet decision requiring internal recruitment to be prioritised before external hiring.
In addition, six public recruitment advertisements were issued locally at the request of government bodies during the same period.
“These measures ensure justice, equality and equal opportunities for all applicants,” Mr Al Buainain said.
“They also help improve government performance and raise administrative efficiency.”
Mr Al Buainain emphasised that the commission’s role extends beyond recruitment, covering administrative oversight, compliance monitoring and performance improvement across government entities.
“The commission ensures the proper application of civil service legislation and safeguards productivity, fairness and institutional integrity,” he added.
The figures come amid continued parliamentary scrutiny of employment trends and workforce nationalisation, particularly in high-demand sectors such as health and education.
With expatriate numbers continuing to fall and Bahrainis increasingly filling public-sector roles, Mr Al Buainain said the government remained focused on building national capacity while maintaining high-quality public services.
“Our objective is clear,” he said. “A competent, qualified Bahraini workforce at the heart of government, supported by transparent systems and responsible governance.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))