MLSD Minister Allows the resumption of training activities in private training institutions

08-08-2020

Acting on the Coordination Committee’s decision, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, to allow training institutes to reopen from 3 September 2020 as part of Bahrain’s COVID‑19 response, and following the presentation by the National Medical Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus headed by His Excellency Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the Supreme Council of Health, His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, has issued an administrative circular instructing all private training institutions to resume activities from that date until further notice. Resumption is contingent on full compliance with the precautionary controls set by the Taskforce to safeguard workers, trainees and visitors and to curb the virus’s spread. The circular calls on owners, administrative and training staff, and all trainees to follow Ministry of Health guidelines rigorously and to implement every measure required to protect everyone on the premises from COVID‑19 risks. The circular stipulates that private training‑centre owners must supply protective face masks and ensure that every employee and trainee wears one before entering the premises; anyone arriving without a mask must be refused entry. Social‑distancing rules also apply, capping each class at ten trainees and requiring a minimum two‑metre separation between participants. All shared tools are to be sterilised before use, while classrooms, training areas, equipment, offices and devices must undergo daily disinfection. Staff members and trainees must have their temperature checked each day, and anyone registering an elevated reading is to be denied entry. Suspected COVID‑19 cases—or individuals who believe they have been in contact with an infected person—must be reported immediately via the national hotline (444) so that precautionary measures can be activated without delay. The circular also details provisions for virtual learning, workplace training and examinations. Training‑centre owners are encouraged to maintain and upgrade remote‑learning options and, where programme design allows, to blend classroom and online delivery. Field placements remain permissible for on‑the‑job training, provided all health and safety terms are met. Institutions may administer international examinations either on a one‑to‑one basis or to small groups of up to five people, including the invigilator, in line with the specified requirements. To safeguard public health, the Ministry of Labour and Social Development will carry out periodic inspections of every training provider; any centre that breaches the regulations will incur fines and further legal measures to protect the well‑being of staff, trainees and the wider community. In this context, Minister Humaidan underlined that restarting in‑person tuition serves the public interest by revitalising the training sector, which is crucial for preparing job‑seekers to enter private‑sector establishments. Quality vocational training, he noted, elevates the personal capabilities and professional skills of Bahraini talent—particularly in fields demanding continual upskilling such as aviation, engineering, heavy‑crane operation, and electrical and industrial technologies—thereby advancing their careers and boosting productivity across the economy. Humaidan acknowledged that the coming period will be testing for private training institutes and urged them to prove their mettle through robust course marketing and innovative human‑capital solutions that secure their ongoing contribution to national development. He added that the government places strong emphasis on vocational training as a gateway to integrating citizens into diverse productive sectors, which is why the Ministry of Labour and Social Development recently hosted a series of consultative meetings with owners and stakeholders of private training centres. These discussions focused on resuming classes safely, assessing each institute’s readiness, and ensuring full compliance with precautionary measures in light of current circumstances. The Ministry of Labour and Social Development, in coordination with the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) and the Education and Training Quality Authority, has approved detailed provisions for virtual training. These measures guarantee the seamless delivery of online courses, enable regulators to monitor and audit each step, and uphold the integrity of every programme. By safeguarding the training sector from disruption, the framework protects institutional gains, sustains the professional growth of Bahraini talent, and reinforces the Kingdom’s status as a regional hub for vocational training and human‑resources development.