Bahrainis’ average pay rises to BD760

The average monthly wage of Bahrainis in the private sector has jumped by BD70 in five years to BD760 by the third quarter of 2020.

The average pay was BD690 in 2016, BD710 in 2017, BD723 in 2018 and BD740 in 2019, added Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Humaidan.

He was replying to a question by Bahrain Bloc president Ahmed Al Salloom on the average pay for Bahrainis in the private sector.

“The government has adopted a comprehensive approach to ensure an appropriate pay for Bahrainis in the private sector, reaching BD760 in five years from an average of BD690 in 2016,” he told MPs in writing.

“The private sector had around 105,000 Bahraini workers by the end of last year, which is 69 per cent of the total national workforce with the remaining 31pc being civil servants.

“Bahraini private sector workers drawing wages of BD600 or more now constitute 35pc of the total Bahraini workforce, up from 30pc in 2016.

“We have introduced Bahrainisation percentages and provided wage support, amongst other initiatives, to help make Bahrainis the preferred choice.”

The local workforce was protected from dismissal through special wage support from April to December last year as Covid-19 devastated the international labour market.

“The Covid-19 wage support saw 100,000 Bahraini workers in the private sector get 100pc of their wages paid by the government for three months and then 23,000 in the most affected sectors benefited from 50pc wage support from July to December.

“Tamkeen, in partnership with us, last year launched a pay rise scheme of up to BD200 per worker for 18 months, with 7,500 Bahrainis in the private sector benefiting from it.

“Dismissals in the private sector dropped by 9pc from the 2019 level despite the pandemic.

“We have not received a single complaint of a Bahraini worker under the three-year wage support programme being sacked after the completion of the period.

“This shows commitment from employers to keep those they have helped qualify, train and develop into skilled individuals.”

Meanwhile, in response to a question by Abdulla Al Dossary on Bahraini jobseekers over the past three years, Mr Humaidan said:

“We had 15,283 general jobseekers, with around 50pc holding a Bachelor’s degree or higher. This compares with 10,795 in 2019.

“The number of first-time job applicants was 11,648 last year, and in January-February this year it was 2,346.

“This compared with 12,427 first-time job applicants in 2019, and 9,401 in 2018.”

In January and February this year, 3,622 people were found jobs.

“By the end of last year, we managed to get 19,221 employed despite the pandemic, 24,718 in 2019 and 24,685 in 2018.”

Mr Humaidan said that businesses had asked to sack 906 Bahrainis, but only 212 were forcefully let go due to Covid-19.

“In comparison, 3,223 expats were dismissed.”

Fifty-six Bahrainis had their monthly unemployment allowances stopped in January and February, added the minister.

“Last year the allowances for 201 Bahrainis were stopped, 181 in 2019 and 290 in 2018.”

Source: https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/943633/Bahrainis%E2%80%99-average-pay-rises-to-BD760