Bahrainis occupy 75pc of banking jobs

Bahrainis form 75 per cent of employed bankers in the country as shown in the latest official statistics. “There are 5,618 Bahrainis working in the banking sector,” Finance Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa confirmed recently, explaining that these figures were provided in 2014. The Minister revealed that “out of the 7,473 employed bankers in Bahrain, 1,855 were expats.” He added that 4,338 Bahrainis were working in retail banks.

In his reply to MP Ghazi Al Rahma’s queries about Bahraini bankers and their employment situations, Shaikh Ahmed stated that 1,943 Bahrainis were employed in top banking positions, forming 60 pc.

This came as the MP demanded to favour Bahrainis for top positions (CEOs, assistant CEOs and Managers) in the banking sector, requesting the Minister to clarify the Ministry’s efforts to replace expats in these positions with Bahraini citizens.

“The total of Bahraini bankers’ salaries in 2015 was BD8,244,224 and for non-Bahrainis, it was BD5,514,235,” Shaikh Ahmed revealed in his answer, which included more details and data about bankers and banking students in Bahrain. 

The information provided by the Finance Minister will be discussed during the next Parliament weekly session on Tuesday.