514,000 expat workers; 7942 jobless nationals

Manama : More than half-a-million expatriates are working in Bahrain while around 8,000 nationals remain unemployed, MP Jalal Kadhim said in the house yesterday.

Criticising the Government for not seeking solutions to replace foreign employment with nationals, Kadhim said: “Bahraini teachers and engineers are working as cashiers and security personnel in supermarkets. The latest data shows that there are 8,400 unemployed Bahrainis and they are all university graduates. 70 per cent of the graduates aren’t working in the majors they studied. We need bold decisions by the government to solve this issue.”

“There are more than 300 private healthcare institutions in Bahrain and you won’t see any Bahraini doctors or nurses in them. The only Bahraini employees they have are the security guards or receptionists,” he claimed.

“There are 514,000 foreigners working in both the public and private sectors, in comparison with only 114,000 Bahrainis. Employing them is one of their rights that are granted in the Kingdom’s constitution and National Action Charter. The Bahrainisation scheme remains but mere ink on paper. We must invest in Bahrainis,” Kadhim stated while reviewing the government’s reply to his proposal to employ Bahrainis in new projects.

 “Various programmes were organised, endless meetings held and many panels formed. But what have we actually offered to unemployed citizens. There are eight unemployed Bahrainis in every 10 house. The true wealth of the country is in national human resources. The strategies of GCC states and other countries depend on nationals. The Crown Prince International Scholarship Programme should be an example to invest in nationals,” said Kadhim.The lawmaker called the government to apply pressure on private establishments to employ more Bahrainis.

Acting Recruitment Director in Labour and Social Development Ministry Hussain Al Shami stated during the discussion that 7,942 unemployed Bahrainis were reported by 2016 end.

Al Shami also said that 159,000 are working in both the public and private sectors.