Bahrain
Kuwait
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Print
Email
Discuss this article (9 Comments)Blueprint revealed to put 185,000 Bahrainis into work
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Thursday, 29 October 2009
JOBS BOOST: About 185,000 Bahrainis will find work under a new strategy launched by Tamkeen.
A blueprint has been drawn up to put 185,000 Bahrainis into jobs over the next five years, it was reported on Thursday.
The new strategy will target youngsters as they leave schools, colleges or universities and includes training at least 35,000 Bahrainis in post-secondary, graduate and doctoral programmes to take the place of qualified expats.
Another 150,000 Bahrainis will be trained for entry-level jobs requiring only school-level education, Gulf Daily News reported.
The masterplan, which is in addition to a plan already launched by Tamkeen (formerly the Labour Fund) to feed 20,000 Bahrainis into jobs by 2012m focuses on 49 training programmes in eight fields.
Tamkeen chief executive Abdulelah Al Qassimi told the paper: "We are focused on empowering Bahrainis by giving them the right opportunities to stand out as employees of choice, who can power the growth of the country.
"The strategy explicitly serves the requirements of the five-year national economic strategy and strengthens Tamkeen's position as a key player in realising Vision 2030," he added.
READERS' COMMENTS
Disclaimer: The views expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by ArabianBusiness.com or its employees.
I agree
Posted by Marijke, Manama, Bahrain on Tuesday 3 November 2009 at 15:08 UAE time
Shivaraman, you are 100% correct. All GCC countries need to stop judging by nationality but by skills and experience. A European mysefl who worked with Asian people for 2 years, I found out my salary was more than double compared to my Asian colleagues doing the exact same job.
At the same time, and Im sure that is easier said than done, maybe people should stop accepting lower salaries and demand better pay, before accepting a job. But then, lots of companies hire unqualified staff for the job so you can't really expect a good pay if you dont have the skills!
As for Bahraini's, when I hear what they get paid, it's ridiculous that an expat get a higher pay plus benefits and a local gets a few 100 BD's and that's it. But then, when you are too lazy to get an education and find a job, even when you have to work your way up from nothing, then that what you have to do. Things have come to easy for this generation, and that needs to change.
Posted by Marijke, Manama, Bahrain on Tuesday 3 November 2009 at 15:08 UAE time
Shivaraman, you are 100% correct. All GCC countries need to stop judging by nationality but by skills and experience. A European mysefl who worked with Asian people for 2 years, I found out my salary was more than double compared to my Asian colleagues doing the exact same job.
At the same time, and Im sure that is easier said than done, maybe people should stop accepting lower salaries and demand better pay, before accepting a job. But then, lots of companies hire unqualified staff for the job so you can't really expect a good pay if you dont have the skills!
As for Bahraini's, when I hear what they get paid, it's ridiculous that an expat get a higher pay plus benefits and a local gets a few 100 BD's and that's it. But then, when you are too lazy to get an education and find a job, even when you have to work your way up from nothing, then that what you have to do. Things have come to easy for this generation, and that needs to change.
Wages & Nationality
Posted by shivaraman Ravi, Doha, Qatar on Sunday 1 November 2009 at 10:45 UAE time
Yes it is bad that a western national is paid more than a Asian though the Asian is equally or more qualified. It is high time that people start looking at WHITE SKIN as any qualification it is just Genetic transfer and the individuals capabelity is what must be evaluated. Please be fair and just
Posted by shivaraman Ravi, Doha, Qatar on Sunday 1 November 2009 at 10:45 UAE time
Yes it is bad that a western national is paid more than a Asian though the Asian is equally or more qualified. It is high time that people start looking at WHITE SKIN as any qualification it is just Genetic transfer and the individuals capabelity is what must be evaluated. Please be fair and just
Bahraini work ethic?
Posted by Expat Brat, Manama on Saturday 31 October 2009 at 11:57 UAE time
While I applaud the efforts of the government to promote Bahrainis into the workforce, as they should, there seems to be a large gap in the types of jobs many Bahrainis will take.
Why, for example, are there Indians and Filipinos in the majority of jobs in the Hotel and Catering section of the community or the Food and beverage industries? In other Islamic countries, mainly in the Far East or in countries like Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon, there are natives working in these industries, not expats.
However, the average young lad, straight out of school (not necessarily university) does not want to work in this industry. There seems to be very little work ethic around that says that any job is a good one so long as you are earning for yourself. Their fathers and grandfathers understood this and worked in all trades. I saw it in BAPCO and in Manama when I was younger. The new generation have been pampered and spoilt, and in my opinion, don't have such a strong work ethic. They would rather stay at home and sponge off the community rather than do a good, honest days work. They expect managerial standard jobs despite the fact that many of them just aren't qualified and aren't prepared to start at the bottom and work up.
Just my controversial 2 fils.
Cheers
Posted by Expat Brat, Manama on Saturday 31 October 2009 at 11:57 UAE time
While I applaud the efforts of the government to promote Bahrainis into the workforce, as they should, there seems to be a large gap in the types of jobs many Bahrainis will take.
Why, for example, are there Indians and Filipinos in the majority of jobs in the Hotel and Catering section of the community or the Food and beverage industries? In other Islamic countries, mainly in the Far East or in countries like Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon, there are natives working in these industries, not expats.
However, the average young lad, straight out of school (not necessarily university) does not want to work in this industry. There seems to be very little work ethic around that says that any job is a good one so long as you are earning for yourself. Their fathers and grandfathers understood this and worked in all trades. I saw it in BAPCO and in Manama when I was younger. The new generation have been pampered and spoilt, and in my opinion, don't have such a strong work ethic. They would rather stay at home and sponge off the community rather than do a good, honest days work. They expect managerial standard jobs despite the fact that many of them just aren't qualified and aren't prepared to start at the bottom and work up.
Just my controversial 2 fils.
Cheers
If there are no Expats, there will be no jobs as well
Posted by Manoj, Manama, Bahrain on Saturday 31 October 2009 at 11:49 UAE time
There is a side effect if the number of expatriates are reduced. There will be that much less demand for Apartments, villas, Goods in Supermarkets and there will be consequently less economic growth. This will reduce construction actvity and will have a negative effect in availability of Jobs in the market for Bahrainis.
There is another problem as well. There is an attitude problem with Bahrainis resulting in poor customer service and less efficiency at work. Examples are any Batelco customer service, Gulf Air and any other establishments where Bahraini staff are a majority. Also there are lot of jobs available in construction sector as supervisors and Engineers for which very few Bahrainis comes forward. Mainly because these are not white collar jobs and they are not willing to do hard work and would rather remain umemployed on government doles.
Therefore any efforts at generating jobs for Bahrainis should not be at the cost of Expats, because reducing number of expats will hurt Bahrainis also.
There is another strange rule in Bahrain wherein a Bahraini employed in Government or Private sector, cannot sponsor a business venture. He has to be unemployed to sponsor businesses. This is a major disincentive for expats to set up any business here.
Posted by Manoj, Manama, Bahrain on Saturday 31 October 2009 at 11:49 UAE time
There is a side effect if the number of expatriates are reduced. There will be that much less demand for Apartments, villas, Goods in Supermarkets and there will be consequently less economic growth. This will reduce construction actvity and will have a negative effect in availability of Jobs in the market for Bahrainis.
There is another problem as well. There is an attitude problem with Bahrainis resulting in poor customer service and less efficiency at work. Examples are any Batelco customer service, Gulf Air and any other establishments where Bahraini staff are a majority. Also there are lot of jobs available in construction sector as supervisors and Engineers for which very few Bahrainis comes forward. Mainly because these are not white collar jobs and they are not willing to do hard work and would rather remain umemployed on government doles.
Therefore any efforts at generating jobs for Bahrainis should not be at the cost of Expats, because reducing number of expats will hurt Bahrainis also.
There is another strange rule in Bahrain wherein a Bahraini employed in Government or Private sector, cannot sponsor a business venture. He has to be unemployed to sponsor businesses. This is a major disincentive for expats to set up any business here.
Click here to post a comment
MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM
TOP IN MIDDLE EAST POLITICS & ECONOMICS
TOP MIDDLE EAST BUSINESS STORIES
ALSO IN MIDDLE EAST POLITICS & ECONOMICS
LATEST MIDDLE EAST BUSINESS NEWS
- Politics & Economics: European bank shares plunge on Dubai debt concerns
- Politics & Economics: Moody's cuts Dubai GRI ratings amid debt delay
- Politics & Economics: Job losses seen slowing in UAE - StanChart
- Transportation: Abu Dhabi transport chiefs give Eid gift to motorists
- Banking & Finance: Cost of insuring Dubai's debt rises further
SHARE PRICE CHECK
RELATED STORIES
Tamkeen
| 6 stories- Bahrain targets key sectors for 2012 jobs growth
24 Sep '09 | News - The bridge to Bahrain
9 Sep '09 | Features
Mobile
