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At least 80 per cent Bahrainisation in the agricultural sector has been demanded by the country’s largest municipal council.
It comes as the Northern Municipal Council revealed figures that the total agricultural workforce in Bahrain consists of 9,120 workers – of which only 650 are Bahraini.
The council has expressed outrage at the fact that an overwhelming majority of the workforce were foreigners and demanded “the Bahraini farmer make a comeback”.
It voted in favour of a proposal to enforce an 80pc Bahrainisation quota in tenders issued for the agricultural sector by the Northern Municipality.
“The Bahraini has to make a comeback in all fields and not just agriculture,” said the council’s technical committee chairman Abdullah Al Qubaisi.
“The Northern Governorate is known for its fertile lands and we demand that there is 80pc Bahrainisation in these tenders issued by the municipality.
“It is shocking to hear that an Indian farmer took 23 days to remove a Conocarpus tree – as per the tender issued by the municipality – when a Bahraini completely disposed of it in just two days.
“All you have to do is drive from Hamad Town roundabout one all the way to roundabout 22 and you will see all the dead plants and red palm weevils eating through palm trees.”
However, Northern Municipality director general Lamya Al Fadhala, who was present during the council’s discussions, said an initiative was already underway to fully train Bahraini palm tree trimmers.
She also revealed that work was underway to ensure new tenders, relating to palm trees and their maintenance, mandate the hiring of Bahraini farmers as a priority.
“This new initiative we’re working on will provide a full training programme for palm tree trimmers and we are completely supportive of this proposal,” she said.
“Work is also underway to ensure new tenders issued regarding palm trees mandate Bahraini farmers.
“However, in other tenders such as cleaning and maintenance jobs we can’t enforce it because of the cost involved.”
Councillor Faisal Shabeeb stressed during debate on the proposal that although hiring Bahraini farmers would be more expensive they should remain a priority, while his colleague Hussain Al A’ali highlighted the importance of ensuring a percentage of Bahrainisation was enforced in tenders and contracts.
“We need to look at the percentage of Bahrainisation – if it is there or not – and if it is in the contract we need to see if it is actually enforced,” said Mr Al A’ali.
“If we leave the contracts open then obviously expatriates will be chosen because they are cheaper.
“I suggest we identify a percentage of Bahrainis in these contracts and then enforce it.”
During the discussions, council chairman Ahmed Al Kooheji said he has seen palm trees on public roads with their trunks trimmed too close to the heart of the palm. He explained that upon consulting a Bahraini farmer he was told trimming the trunk too close to the heart resulted in the death of the palm tree within months.
“This is further proof that the Bahraini, who is of this land, is more aware of what the palm trees need,” he added.
The council has approved the proposal and referred it to the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf for review.
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