The provided text discusses Bahrain’s nationalization policy, referred to as “bahrainization,” which aims to increase the employment of Bahraini citizens in the workforce. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
Core Objectives and Strategy:
Reducing Reliance on Expatriate Labor: The primary goal is to decrease the dependence on foreign workers by increasing the proportion of Bahraini nationals in various sectors.
Economic Recovery and Vision Alignment: Bahrainization is integrated into national economic plans like “economic recovery plan 5” and “Bahrain Imaginative and Prescient 2030.” These plans focus on private sector growth, economic diversification away from oil, and meaningful citizen employment.
Creating and Training Citizens: Initiatives aim to create 20,000 Bahraini jobs and train 10,000 citizens annually until 2024. This involves partnerships with local authorities (like Bahrain’s Polytechnic), wage subsidy schemes, and cooperation with organizations like TAMKEEN.Comparative Context:
Regional Trend: Bahrainization is part of a broader regional strategy in GCC countries,often termed “gulfization,” which aims to increase national employment through quotas,training,and penalties/incentives.
Bahrain’s Unique Approach: Bahrain’s nationalization efforts began in the 1980s.Notably, they later overturned the “coffee sponsorship system,” which improved labor rights and mobility for migrant workers.
Impact and Prospects:
Success in Government Agencies: Government agencies have achieved 100% Bahrainization, demonstrating the feasibility of full nationalization in certain sectors.
Progress towards Goals: By the first quarter of 2025, approximately a quarter of the annual nationalization goals had been met, suggesting that most targets could be achieved by year-end if momentum continues.
Challenges: A key challenge is the potential conflict between the demand for qualified national talent and existing labor structures as Bahrainization accelerates in sectors like healthcare and banking.
Sustainable Growth: The policy aims for sustainable growth by anchoring training, wage subsidies, and gradual goals.
Bahrainization in 2025:
Evolution of Policy: By mid-2025, Bahrainization has moved beyond quota-based initiatives to a structured national labor force strategy.
Key Policy Instruments: This strategy includes:
Full Bahrainization in public units.
industry-specific legislation for professional roles.
Cooperative training systems through Tamkeen.
Strict penalties for non-compliance.
Maturity and Balance: Success indicators like rising citizen employment, institutional compliance, and employer involvement suggest Bahrainization is in a more mature phase, balancing citizen efforts, private sector needs, and national growth.
* Future Focus: Maintaining this balance requires continuous regulation, education, business readiness, and social inclusion to ensure structural transformation without disruption.
In essence, Bahrain is actively pursuing a policy to increase the employment of its citizens, aligning this with its broader economic development goals and regional trends, while also navigating the complexities of workforce transition.
