New focus on creating more jobs for Bahrainis

CREATING more job opportunities for Bahrainis is the next phase of the Labour and Social Development Ministry’s strategy following economic recovery plans announced by the government.

Joint conversations between the government, employers and employees is the way forward to achieve labour market goals, affirmed Minister Jameel Humaidan yesterday.

He was speaking during a conference, “Social Dialogue Under Crisis”, held under his patronage and organised by the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and the Bahrain Chamber.

Mr Humaidan said that basic employee rights will not be compromised.

“Bahrain supports opportunities for social dialogue between the three parties of production – the government, employers and workers,” he stated.

“Bahrain believes in independent trade union work which contributes to the development processes and the reform of the labour market in a way that achieves the common benefit of all.

“The previous stage was focused on efforts to maintain the stability of the labour market and job opportunities and our greatest concern was not to lose national competencies due to a decrease in opportunities and a slower economy due to the pandemic.”

He added that the ministry, Tamkeen, the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and the Education Ministry are collaborating to develop education outputs that match the requirements of the labour market in the coming stage.

Mr Humaidan previously explained that the new labour market reform plan includes a long-term strategy while also stating that the aim is to employ 20,000 Bahrainis and train 10,000 annually until 2024.

“The figures announced by the ministry are not fiction and related to people from space,” he clarified.

“All the information and data are documented by the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA), LMRA and the Social Insurance Organisation (SIO) and all parties are working according to their competencies to ensure the accuracy of the information.

“There is no waiver in the basic rights of workers and the ministry has launched multiple projects and initiatives to protect these rights.”

Meanwhile, ILO assistant director-general and regional director for Arab States Dr Ruba Jaradat highlighted the importance of societal dialogue while revealing that economic recovery has stalled.

She added that the eighth report released by the organisation on the impact of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic on jobs has revealed that the disparity between advanced and developing countries has widened with 125 million jobs affected.

“The failure to provide financial support to developing countries increases inequality with employment dropping by 4.3 per cent due to the impact of the pandemic on productivity, workers and establishments,” said Dr Jaradat, addressing the conference remotely.

The two-day conference continues today at the Gulf Hotel Convention and Spa.

 

Source: https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/992143/New-focus-on-creating-more-jobs-for-Bahrainis

 

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