Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): While the Bahraini government continues to disregard and underestimate the growing unemployment crisis of Bahrainis, the scene became even worse when they suspended the support program offered by Tamkeen Fund aimed at the employment of Bahrainis through direct support of their wages, which was already put on hold for review and amendment prior to the eruption of the crisis (since January 15, 2019).

At the end of last month, Tamkeen Chief Executive Ibrahim Janahi promised the return of the program in mid-March, but his promises were empty and just one of many positions underestimating the unemployment crisis, positions of a government that has never respected any promises or deadlines.

Three weeks after the launch of the so-called National Employment Program, no practical action was taken. It may even have only experienced decline. Anyone who knows the ins and outs of the private sector is aware of the impact of this program, which was previously provided directly by the Ministry of Labor (in a different form), in an attempt to drive the market towards employing Bahrainis, covering up to 70% of their salaries.

On Wednesday (March 6, 2018), Tamkeen sent a text message to companies announcing that all services on its website had been suspended due to the updating process of e-services and that it would return to work on Saturday (March 9, 2019). Over ten days later, the site remains completely suspended, with all the vital services offered that affect all private sector businesses, including training, wage support and support offered to enterprises.

Monday (March 18, 2019) afternoon, Janahi appeared at a press conference, announcing the return of the support program only (in operational, marketing and expansion processes), and postponing the launch of the training and wage support program until later this month, he avoided this time specifying an exact date.

Tamkeen announced at the conference that the website would be up and running the next day, without apologizing for the more than 10 day delay, and without any clarification.

As for the date for bringing back the training and wage support program for Bahraini employees, even Tamkeen's customer service staff and call center said that they did not know when, noting that it "may" remain out until the end of the month.

The nature of the Bahraini government's handling of citizens and their major issues and crises, does not seem to disconcert Ibrahim Janahi. He does not feel the need to explain, justify or apologize. It's like he's saying let the unemployed remain unemployment, and let the market movement remain still. No big issue here!

It was hoped that, according to the first promises when the Tamkeen programs were suspended, that it would return early March 2019, but the new government project required Tamkeen to suspend the program for a longer period to review its new terms, which were aimed at reducing benefits. The suspension of the program was extended in hopes that its new conditions would be reviewed in accordance with the government emergency plan. Thus, the acceleration of the employment process of Bahrainis was instead hindered.

Now, following the cancellation of the terms of Bahrainization on private sector companies, and allowing them to hire an unlimited number of foreigners for additional fees, this support program has become the only hope for new Bahraini graduates to land a job in the private sector. Every day made a difference. After two months, it was getting worse rather than improving.

This explains why 75% of the unemployed are new graduates, of which only 8,000 are university graduates, according to the Ministry of Labor.

No enterprise today would like to hire a Bahraini without receiving some state funds, that if it even wants to hire Bahraini nationals in the first place. In the meantime, these enterprises will fill their vacancies with more and more foreigners. It was in reality a government project for naturalizing foreigners rather than employing Bahrainis.

Arabic Version