Non-Bahrainis in civil service drop 29% since 2019

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain has sharply reduced its reliance on foreign workers in government jobs, with the number of non-Bahrainis in the civil service falling by 29% since 2019 as more qualified nationals step into public sector roles.

The number of non-Bahrainis employed in civil service posts dropped to 5,361 from 7,582 over the period, the Civil Service Bureau told parliament in a written reply to MP Dr Hisham Al Asheeri.

The Bureau said non-Bahrainis are appointed only on a temporary basis and only when no suitably qualified Bahraini candidates are available.

Such appointments remain concentrated in highly specialised fields, particularly healthcare, education and higher education.

These include consultant medical roles and specialised hospital positions, as well as posts in genomics, prosthetics, higher education academia, aviation security and safety, hydrogeology and geophysics, marine and aerial surveying, groundwater and wells, plant protection, and bridge and infrastructure projects.

From January 2023 to date, ministries, authorities and other government bodies hired 3,884 new employees, of whom 95% were Bahrainis, the Bureau said. In the medical and health sector, education and higher education, Bahrainis accounted for 93% of the 2,850 new appointments made during the period.

The Bureau said non-Bahrainis are hired only at the request of the employing body and only where an approved post exists within staffing ceilings and budget limits, with appointments governed by approved job descriptions and interview procedures.

Government bodies must report vacancies to the Bureau, which determines which posts should be advertised publicly. Six local vacancies were announced during the period.

Internal recruitment channels are also in place, including an online service, Shawaghir, which allows civil servants to apply for alternative or higher positions.