The Minister of Labour, Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humdaidan, addressing a Press Conference after the Cabinet Meeting said that it was a very important day for Bahrain as the new initiative of the Ministry of Labour would encourage not only jobs but quality jobs for locals.
The private sector entities which offer more quality jobs to locals or to women will be rewarded to encourage other private sector companies to follow the suit resulting in bolstering the standard of living of Bahrainis.
The Minister said with the help of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry was finalising the formula to exclude Bahrainisation quota for those sectors which do not fit for Bahrainis.
Al Humiadan said that the Ministry of Labour has implemented the National Wages and Salaries Improvement Project for Bahraini Workforce in compliance with the directives of the wise leadership and also in compliance with Cabinet resolutions regarding amelioration of living standards and boosting the livelihood of Bahraini employees in the private sector.
The total number of graduate employees targeted by the project reached 2203 university graduates and 20919 undergraduates (high secondary school leavers) with the total number of national workforce served by this project reaches 23122 Bahraini citizens.
According to the Minister of Labor, after the elapsing of 18 months since the beginning, the working team in both projects improved the wages of 12683 Bahraini workers, including 2203 university graduates whose salaries were increased to a minimum of BD 400 and 10480 undergraduates (high secondary school graduates) whose salaries were increased to a minimum of BD 250.
The National Wages Improvement Scheme for National Workforce aims to increase the salaries of Bahraini university graduates who have met the terms and conditions to a minimum of BD 400 with Government support for one year and the salaries of Bahraini undergraduates (high secondary school leavers) increased to BD 250 with Government support for two years. Afterwards, the relevant employer will pay the targeted salary to the employee after the end of the support period.
According to the Minister of Labor, the number of beneficiaries from both projects reached 1019 Bahraini employees who benefited from the Government support. A number of businesses have already taken the initiative and improved the wages of 11664 Bahraini employees without requesting for the Government support and this reflects the awareness of employers as to the significance of stability of Bahraini workforce and which has its positive impact on pushing the wheel of our national economy.
His Excellency the Minister revealed that 1921 establishments have already been visited (i.e. 36.4%) of the total number of 5277 establishments targeted by the National Wages Improvement Scheme for Bahraini University Graduates.
The Minister of Labor, Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, praised the positive response from employers and businesses and their remarkable cooperation which ensured the successfulness of all programs undertaken by the Ministry of Labor, especially the two projects aimed for improvement of salaries and wages and this culminated on the stability of national workforce and high productivity and this leads to boosting labor market stability.
The Minister also praised the awareness of Bahraini workers and their desire to maintain job stability and serve the Homeland as attested by the initiative taken by many workers who showed up at the Ministry and expressed their genuine desire to join the scheme as beneficiaries.