MPs demand full Bahrainisation of Gulf Air

A NATIONAL plan to offer jobs at Gulf Air exclusively to Bahrainis was demanded by MPs.

They also called on the government to set a timeframe for the proposed move to replace expatriate employees.

MP and Arab Parliament Speaker Adel Al Asoomi said there were qualified Bahrainis who could take up their roles.“

All jobs from captains to crews are offered to expatriates,” Mr Al Asoomi said during the Parliament’s weekly session yesterday.

“That doesn’t give the right impression about our country.“We have smart, qualified Bahrainis and the country’s national carrier should employ our citizens.

“There has to be a plan for full Bahrainisation of Gulf Air. It will transform the company and take it to newer heights,” he added.

The GDN in October last year quoted MP Khalid Bu Onk as saying that Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, the nation’s sovereign wealth fund, had 3,062 expatriate employees, with 986 alone in Gulf Air.MP Zainab Abdulamir also echoed similar sentiments.

“Gulf Air should be fully Bahrainised,” she said. “There are young and ambitious Bahraini jobseekers and Gulf Air should give them opportunities to prove themselves. ”The MPs also demanded that a Bahraini pilot allegedly sacked by Gulf Air be reinstated.In July, passengers and crew onboard Gulf Air flight GF215 from Bahrain to Kuwait were evacuated upon arrival after a ‘minor incident’ during landing. All 62 passengers and seven crew members onboard the flight were safely evacuated and escorted to the airport terminal.

“The pilot should be rewarded for saving everyone on board and not sacked,” Ms Abdulamir said.“We are proud of his quick response. He should be reinstated in his job as he was a model Bahraini employee of our national carrier.”The GDN contacted Gulf Air for a response and to clarify the circumstances surrounding the pilot’s position. The airline had not replied by the time the GDN went to Press. The debate over Gulf Air’s employment strategy was just one of 70 replies on Parliamentary proposals yesterday.

A hike in utility bills was a hot topic with veteran MP Isa Al Qadi claiming that the residential investment sector had suffered major setbacks due to the move.“Local investors have taken loans and banks are pushing for repayments,” he said. “Investors are suffering huge losses as most of the buildings are not occupied.

“Tenants are reluctant to move in owing to the rise in utility bills.“Expats are now sharing accommodations to reduce costs. ”The debate comes as a proposal to slash utility bills for expats and Bahrainis with more than one home was rejected by the government last week.Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain told MPs in writing that such a move was not feasible as it would cost the authorities an additional BD40 million.

The minister revealed that the government has been setting aside BD430m annually to purchase electricity and water from the private sector to meet the rising demand and further cuts on bills would strain the national coffers.MPs also called on the government to launch amnesty plan for illegal expat workers. They also raised concerns over employment adverts in English, which they claimed were aimed at expats rather than Bahrainis. An Interior Ministry official said during the session that raids were being conducted periodically to arrest expats violating the law.

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