‘60% of jobseekers are graduates’

TDT | Manama

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Acting Minister of Labour, His Excellency Yousuf Khalaf, yesterday rejected claims that the ministry had put a doctor forward for a photographer’s job through the National Employment Platform.

H.E. Khalaf told Parliament he would apologise publicly if any verified case showed the ministry had nominated jobseekers for roles that did not match their qualifications.

In his reply to MP Muneer Seroor, Khalaf said it was ‘inconceivable’ that a doctor would be offered such a role and asked the MP to provide the case number or personal ID so the matter could be checked.

He said repeating such claims could deter people from dealing with the Ministry of Labour and from using the platform.

Aware

Khalaf said he was aware of a previous case in which a dentist, by her own choice, applied for a photographer’s job, a matter that later appeared on social media.

He said this was the applicant’s decision rather than the ministry’s, and argued that people should not be stopped from applying for roles they see as suitable, including if the pay is appealing.

Seroor said around 60 per cent of jobseekers are university graduates and called for more focus on this group, particularly with continued renewals of work permits for large numbers of expat workers.

The lawmaker said this raised questions about the share of opportunities available to citizens.

Gap

He added that there remains a gap between jobs offered to citizens and those given to foreigners in pay, working conditions and benefits, and urged efforts to reduce that difference.

Seroor also pointed to differing public remarks about citizens’ acceptance of available jobs, saying clearer messaging was needed to build trust between the relevant bodies and jobseekers.

He said the Bahrainisation track needs a more workable approach that delivers fair chances for citizens and real results that support the role of local talent across sectors, in line with the leadership’s directives and Bahrain’s development priorities.