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A total of 5,000 Bahrainis were employed in the private sector since the start of the year, it has been revealed.
The jobs were found in 2,465 companies under the second edition of the National Employment Programme 2.0.
In addition, 1,874 nationals were trained in various skills compatible with labour market requirements, said Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Humaidan.
He was speaking during a virtual media briefing organised by the National Contact Centre yesterday on the programme launched to combat the impact of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
The three-year programme (2021-2023), approved by the Cabinet on January 18, aims to find jobs for 25,000 Bahrainis this year and train 10,000.
Eighty-three institutes have been licensed by the ministry to implement training programmes with guarantee of employment.
Three initiatives are driving the ambitious programme: The allocation by the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) of a budget of BD120 million for three years, which is double the money allocated during the past five years to support the employment of Bahrainis through the wage support programme; extending the period of announcing vacancies before the recruitment of non-Bahraini workers from two to three weeks; and tightening measures to control irregular workers.
“It is hoped that the pace of employment and training will pick up in the coming months following the integration of mechanisms as well as technical and administrative preparations to strengthen the programme,” said Mr Humaidan.
Vacancies
“In January, 2,905 vacancies were announced, which increased to 4,885 in February and reached 5,097 in mid-March, and efforts are underway to enhance the programme further.”
The minister said 85 per cent of the jobs offered are suitable for Bahraini women while more than 65pc of those registered for employment were females.
He added that there are around 5,000 Bahraini women holding part-time jobs and efforts are underway to double that number.
There was a nine per cent decrease in people losing their jobs from 2019 to 2020 despite the pandemic, said Mr Humaidan.
“The implementation of the programme comes during extraordinary global circumstances to encourage the employment of citizens in various sectors in the labour market,” said the minister.
“We are sparing no efforts to implement projects, programmes and policies to ensure qualified Bahrainis are employed in the private sector as well as ensuring job security while also enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of services provided.
“The programme has been promoted to employers and job-seekers while efforts were intensified to support part-time employment and remote working for Bahraini women in addition to launching online job fairs.”
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