Humaidan briefs the delegation of the International Monetary Fund on the achievements of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the fields of work, employment, training and community development

25-02-2020

Today, Tuesday, at his office at the Ministry, His Excellency Jameel bin Mohammad Ali Humaidan, Minister of Labour and Social Development, received a delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission headed by Mr Bikas Joshi, currently visiting the Kingdom as part of its work to prepare a periodic report on the economic conditions of the Fund’s member states, including the Kingdom of Bahrain, in the presence of a number of ministry officials. During the meeting, Humaidan briefed the delegation on the latest developments and achievements in employment, training job seekers, and securing suitable job opportunities for them. This aligns with efforts to protect the rights of job seekers in employment and training within the private sector, as well as the development and support of small and medium-sized enterprises. The details of the National Employment Programme, announced yesterday during the Cabinet session, were discussed alongside the strategic vision for its implementation within the applicable systems and policies. The Programme aims to enhance government policies prioritising Bahraini citizens as the first choice for employment in the labour market, while maintaining labour‑market flexibility to attract competencies and investments that strengthen the national economy. The visiting delegation was also briefed on the social protection systems provided by the Kingdom of Bahrain to citizens, including unemployment insurance, social security, the financial support allowance, social assistance, and state‑provided subsidies for orphans, widows, and people with disabilities, in addition to the standard of living and housing allowance. These subsidies and assistance are provided to ensure a decent standard of living for citizens with the lowest incomes, thereby supporting the desired social development. On this occasion, Humaidan stressed that, through the National Employment Programme, the Kingdom of Bahrain is committed to achieving a balance between attracting investments, supporting the national economy, and preserving the rights of the national workforce to play a role in construction and development within a healthy work environment. He also referred to the efforts in training, wage support, and unemployment insurance, which place the Bahraini citizen in a competitive position and as the primary choice in the labour market. At the same time, he indicated readiness to co‑operate with the International Monetary Fund in the interests of the national economy of the Kingdom of Bahrain. For his part, the head of the IMF delegation praised the co‑operation shown by the Minister of Labour and Social Development and the Ministry’s officials in responding to all enquiries and questions raised during the meeting. This had a positive impact in gaining a closer view of the current situation and developments in the services provided by the Kingdom to support employment and training programmes and to provide decent and appropriate job opportunities for Bahraini citizens, within a framework that balances this objective with the requirements of attracting investment opportunities and strengthening the national economy.