Replace Foreign Workers with Bahrainis

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Mohammed Darwish An urgent parliamentary proposal has called for a temporary government-backed scheme to support the replacement of foreign workers with Bahraini nationals in roles that can be localised.

The proposal, submitted by MP Dr Munir Seroor, urges the Labour Ministry, the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and Tamkeen to launch a targeted support programme linked directly to job replacement rather than new hiring.

Under the plan, financial and employment support would only be provided when an employer removes a foreign worker from a position and hires a qualified Bahraini to fill the same role. The support would aim to bridge salary differences and help ensure job stability for Bahrainis during the transition period.

Dr Seroor said the initiative responds to current economic pressures affecting some businesses, noting the need for practical measures that help firms reduce costs while increasing employment opportunities for citizens.

He added that the proposal differs from existing schemes by making support conditional on actual replacement outcomes, describing it as a faster and more direct approach to labour market localisation.

The proposal also suggests using existing Tamkeen programmes in a more targeted way and limiting the initiative to a fixed period to achieve quicker results in the labour market.