Addressing the 15th Asia and the Pacific Conference being held in Japanese city Kyoto, Dr Esam while referring to ILO’s concerns about discrimination he said Bahrain Government had setup a mechanism to address the issues related to employment and trade unions.
He said that this decision confirms the ability of Bahrain to resolve such issues and will contribute to improving opportunities and areas of cooperation and strengthening bridges of trust between the parties to the three production in the Kingdom as well to unite their efforts and make it serve the interests of the national economy and address any negative impacts created by the recent events, noting that the reforms launched by Bahrain as contained in the values of democracy and the consecration of the principles of human rights and trade union freedoms.
He also touched upon the efforts made by the Kingdom of Bahrain in the reform of the local labour market and respect for fundamental principles and rights of workers, and provide standards of decent work and the implementation of all obligations under international and regional conventions, which joined in the field of human rights, labour, workers, and reduce human trafficking and discrimination and freedom of trade unions.
He said that such efforts have led to improved relations between the three partners in the production, and activating the movement of economic growth, and provide healthy work environment of fair and adequate housing for the workers, and increased rates of production and employment.
“Bahrain in the past 10 years has witnessed many strides of progress at various levels and in many fields, especially in the areas of development and reform, the government has been distinguished under the leadership of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the best supportive and certain of these reforms, as was the management of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Chairman of the Economic Development Board.
“The leadership’s efforts in promoting the economy of Bahrain through the process of developing and updating comprehensive covering various areas, has helped Bahrain to achieve economic stability. Bahrain has notched the lowest rates of unemployment among its Arab peers and was the first Arab country to provide unemployment benefits to their citizens i.e. unemployed or waiting for jobs. Also Bahrain was the first country in the region to cancel the sponsorship system and Bahrain is still looking to achieve more and provide more jobs and investment opportunities.
He pointed out that the problem of unemployment is one of the biggest problems facing the region average youth unemployment is equal to an average of three times the unemployment of adults is a serious indicator that can be increased if you failed to take effective measures to eliminate this problem from the root, and returns the causes of the problem of unemployment in the countries of this region for several reasons, most notably high rate of illiteracy and low school enrolment and the persistence of child labour and lack of employment opportunities for young people, hence the importance of the interest of the establishment and development of small and medium-sized to prevent rising unemployment among young people by developing policies, organization, and increase investment in sectors that provide more opportunities for young people, through the support of financing small and medium enterprises and to clarify its role in economic development, and encourage commercial banks and financial institutions to participate in the financing plans of economic and social development of these institutions to contribute in reducing unemployment and providing rewarding job opportunities for young people.