Bahrainisation: Plan ready for voting

Manama : Lawmakers will soon vote on a proposal to sack 50pc  of non-Bahrainis working in governmental entities.

Submitted by MP Jalal Kadhem Al Mahfoudh in February, the proposal stipulates sacking of half of non-Bahrainis working in the public sector after their work permits end.

The lawmakers decided back then to vote for postponing the discussion on the matter.

However, the proposal comes again on their tables this Tuesday as an “urgent” subject.

Al Mahfoudh previously told DT News that “the proposal would give unemployed Bahrainis a chance to work and create more job openings in the public sector.”

“There are around 2,500 expats working in all fields of the government sector and they were employed during the past three years. The government should consider employing national cadres, who are qualified in the same fields that expats are occupying in the public sector,” he said.

The government stressed in its reply to the proposal that priority in employment is for Bahrainis, as per the Kingdom’s constitution. 

But it also highlighted that non-Bahrainis are hired to cover the jobs that require certain qualifications that Bahrainis do not have. 

The government added that non-Bahrainis are only hired in the public sector if no Bahrainis are available to occupy the position.