MLSD Minister: Achieving 56% of the National Program for Employment gaols in its 2nd Edition by Employing More Than 14,000 Bahrainis

03-08-2021

His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, affirmed that the measures taken by the esteemed Government—headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may God protect him—and His Highness’s directives to launch the National Employment Programme 2.0 at the beginning of this year have enhanced the stability of the local labour market, stimulated recruitment and generated private‑sector opportunities despite the exceptional circumstances caused by the Coronavirus (COVID‑19) pandemic. The Programme is progressing as planned: 56 per cent of its targets have already been met, with 14,011 citizens placed across productive sectors to date out of the 25,000 jobs earmarked for 2021. Government initiatives have likewise succeeded in limiting lay‑offs stemming from the pandemic’s economic impact. Reviewing the Cabinet’s labour‑market‑indicator report for the first half of 2021 and developments under National Employment Programme 2.0, Humaidan said employment levels are expected to rise as many productive sectors enter a recovery phase—thanks to the close cooperation of all partners and stakeholders—which will further accelerate the integration of Bahraini jobseekers into private‑sector establishments. In coordination with the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), the Ministry has continued training programmes for jobseekers: 5,754 individuals have so far acquired the skills demanded by the market, towards a target of 10,000 trainees by year‑end. The report shows that 68 per cent of the total Bahraini workforce is now employed in the private sector, underscoring that sector’s pivotal role in supporting the national economy and absorbing new entrants. The Ministry’s vacancy bank currently lists 4,801 openings, which are being used to match job seekers with roles appropriate to their qualifications. To prioritise citizens for suitable vacancies, the Government introduced in January 2021 a new mechanism requiring private institutions seeking to recruit from abroad to advertise posts in the local press for three weeks. To date, 13,365 vacancies have been publicised under this system, and the Ministry has targeted those compatible with Bahraini jobseekers’ credentials. Wage stability has also been maintained. The average total wage in the first quarter of 2020 was seven hundred and eighty‑eight dinars, while the average Bahraini wage in the private sector rose to seven hundred and seventy dinars in the first quarter of this year. By the end of Q1 2021, 56 per cent of Bahraini private‑sector employees were earning in excess of four hundred dinars per month. Concluding, Humaidan stressed that the Government places the employment of Bahrainis in the private sector at the forefront of its priorities. The recently approved National Labour Market Plan contains initiatives underscoring this commitment. He called for concerted efforts to integrate citizens into enterprises, noting that Bahraini workers' loyalty, honesty and productivity provide the surest guarantee of business stability and growth. Continuous professional training—pre‑employment and on-the-job—is essential to equip nationals with the skills the market requires. The Minister expressed confidence that employers will continue to seek out Bahraini talent to drive production across all commercial and economic sectors of the Kingdom.