Urgent calls have gone out to conduct an assessment study on the effects of a proposed ban on expat recruitment in 35 professions.

Senior members of Bahrain’s expatriate community have raised concerns that the proposed amendment to the 2012 Jobs In the Private Sector Law, which the GDN reported on yesterday, would disrupt the economy.

They stressed that they were not against raising Bahrainisation levels in the private sector, but urged legislators to adopt the process on a gradual phase rather than impose an immediate and complete ban.

The full list of jobs that would be reserved only for Bahrainis has not been announced, but it includes fields such as education, currency exchange, accounting, marketing, engineering, human resources, retail and hospitality management, and flight attendants.

The proposal was officially submitted to parliament on Sunday, but the group of MPs spearheading the move yesterday added a 10-year implementation time frame to the amendment.

MP Ahmed Al Sallom explained to the GDN that the proposal aimed to create jobs for 150,000 Bahrainis in those 35 professions within this period.

“We have 18,000 unemployed Bahrainis and they can be absorbed in one year in these 35 professions,” he said.

“Within this 10 years’ time frame expats in these professions will be replaced with Bahrainis.

“Our proposal is a flexible mechanism and it will be left to the government to determine the period.

“We are not looking to destroy the market and of course things need to be gradual or else we will just cause unrepairable damage.”

Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (BKS) president P V Radhakrishna Pillai said the expatriate community did not oppose Bahrainisation efforts, but urged legislators to carefully study the labour market before imposing such a drastic move.

Transition

“There is nothing wrong with the proposal as it seeks logical nationalisation of particular sectors in Bahrain, but doing it instantaneously without an impact study on a possible labour market crash is wrong,” he said.

“The impact needs to be carefully addressed through precise studies for each and every sector of the 35 proposed professions.

“Implementation should be done gradually and over years as the percentage shifts to Bahrainis from expats while ensuring a swift transition, with expats being an indispensable integral part of community.”

Indian Club president Stalin Joseph said the outcome would be catastrophic without a gradual implementation – adding that the transition would only be possible with long-term policies.

“Locals should be first priority, not just in Bahrain but in any country in the world, and any other strategy that doesn’t see nationalisation as first choice is a failure,” he said.

“However, this has to be done gradually and I find a 1-year period to be a good time frame, but without businesses facing a crash or harming expats’ lives, source of income or standard of living.

“There has to be a detailed study, a balanced approach, to enable the transition to happen as intended, shifting the percentage towards Bahrainisation in the required sectors and stopping recruitment at a certain point – not now or a few years from now but it should be over time.”

Both the BKS and the Indian Club represent thousands of Indian expatriates working in Bahrain, with the diaspora making up the majority of the expatriate community at around 400,000.

The proposal was submitted in direct response to another bill, which calls for complete Bahrainisation in all sectors – and fines of BD5,000 to BD20,000 for companies that still hire expats.

That proposal, which also envisaged closing companies that persisted with expat recruitment despite the fines, was officially submitted on Saturday by another group of MPs.

However, moves seeking 100 per cent Bahrainisation in any profession have been described as impossible and impractical by Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Indian community representative Thampi Nagarjuna.

“The world is a global village and if 10 years is the set time then I see a maximum of 50pc Bahrainisation in any of the stated professions as the most qualified, regardless of nationality, will be hired,” said Mr Nagarjuna, who is also adviser to the General Trade Union of Services Workers.

“The proposal if treated as a magic wand is not viable as it will ruin the country.

“The concept is fine if everyone’s rights are protected and things are done in a swift manner.

“Anything that is practical is understandable, otherwise it is a failed attempt – unless done properly and gradually.”

Raise

In addition to banning expats in 35 job categories, the second proposal would also raise the minimum wage of Bahrainis to at least BD550.

The figure currently stands at BD300 for those with secondary certificates or lower, BD380 for diploma holders and BD450 for degree holders.

Both proposals will be reviewed by parliament’s services committee, which will provide its feedback.

It comes amidst a series of Bahrainisation centred projects including the launch of the National Employment Programme and approving amendments to the 2015 Private Medical Establishments Law to force healthcare providers to prioritise hiring Bahraini medics over expatriates.

MPs are also reviewing a change in the law to achieve 100 per cent Bahrainisation in the government sector by 2030.

mohammed@gdn.com.bh

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