Bahrainis and expatriates who have been sacked due to the Covid-19 pandemic have been urged to register on a new jobs portal.
The online portal, talentportal.bh, aims to connect employers in the private sector with jobseekers of different nationalities.
Launched yesterday by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), the free service allows jobseekers to post minimal information in order to register.
LMRA chief executive Ausamah Al Absi told the GDN the platform will help utilise the expat labour force present in Bahrain, including undocumented workers.
“The present situation is that employers cannot bring new workers from outside due to the flights restrictions, while we already have a pool of talented individuals in the country,” he said yesterday.
“This portal, which we have launched with technical support from stc Bahrain, connects jobseekers directly with the employers.”
Jobseekers will have to enter minimal personal information, including an e-mail address, with it being optional to post resume, smart card, licence or even photograph.
“The only mandatory point is that the jobseeker should have a valid e-mail, and there are minimal requirements as we intend to cover a large segment of those affected during this period,” explained Mr Al Absi.
“Employees can only post information which they are comfortable to be seen by others.”
Once registered, employers can search based on industry requirements, salary range and years of experience in order to find the best candidate.
“The idea was to give access to workers who may be affected due to Covid-19 as they may not know where to apply for jobs,” said Mr Al Absi.
“This national portal launched by the LMRA is the perfect meeting point for both parties in the private sector.
“There have been job losses due to Covid-19, and this situation is not unique to Bahrain because it’s happening globally.
“Employers are facing the heat as they are among those affected and like I have said we are helping them find the right candidate, and even help the jobseeker.”
Last month he told the GDN that an average of 6,000 foreign workers lost their jobs in March and April due to the Covid-19 impact on businesses. However, ongoing efforts by the Bahrain government have ensured that a greater number of expatriate workers are being absorbed into the economy.
Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Humaidan also denied claims last week of an imminent wave of mass layoffs in the private sector, once the government support to companies ends this month.
The government has shouldered the salaries of Bahraini employees in the private sector for three months.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) in a report last month stated that more than one in every six young workers around the world stopped working during the pandemic.
The UN labour agency also warned of a “lockdown generation” if states do not take action to resolve the issue.
Furthermore, in its fourth edition of a report on the impact of the pandemic on jobs, the ILO said work hours equivalent to 305 million full-time jobs were lost due to the crisis.
sandy@gdn.com.bh
© Copyright 2019 www.gdnonline.com
Copyright 2020 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
