A proposed amendment to the Vocational Training Law that would have made it compulsory for large private-sector employers to train Bahraini university graduates has been rejected by Parliament.
Labour and Legal Affairs Minister and Acting Minister for Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Yousif Khalaf told MPs that Bahrain already possesses a comprehensive legal framework obliging employers to train job-seekers.
He said the current legislation offers broader flexibility and stronger tools to support Bahrainis entering the labour market.
“The existing Vocational Training Law already empowers the minister to oblige institutions to train job-seekers according to labour market needs, through ministerial decisions that determine numbers, conditions and mechanisms,” he said. “This provides a more comprehensive and adaptable framework than the proposed amendment, which would limit the obligation to a specific category and to large establishments only.”
The proposal sought to add a new Article to the 2007 law, making it compulsory for private-sector employers with 50 or more workers to train Bahraini university graduates nominated by the ministry at a ratio of one trainee for every 50 employees, for a minimum of three months.
While acknowledging the noble objective of increasing employability and reducing unemployment, the government argued that the amendment would not add real legal value and could restrict the wider scope currently available under Article 16 of the existing law. Following the vote, the legislation was referred to the Shura Council for review.
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