Bahrain expands unemployment support

At a glance

• The Bahraini government has introduced a new employment scheme to support registered job seekers.
• The Ministry of Labour must provide three job offers to each registered job seeker before the end of the year.
• The programme includes both public and private sector roles and will be overseen by the Ministry of Labour.
• The Ministry is coordinating with public institutions and private businesses to generate suitable opportunities.
• The Chamber of Commerce and Industry has pledged its support and will collaborate with government agencies.
• Bahrain has launched a new initiative requiring the Ministry of Labour to offer three job opportunities to each registered job seeker by year-end.
• The programme includes roles across both public and private sectors, with coordination led by the Ministry of Labour. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry has pledged its support to help expand employment opportunities.
• Three labour bills were also referred to the Shura Council, including proposals to strengthen unemployment insurance.
• The proposed reforms referred to the Shura Council include a 30-day grace period for work permit renewals, stricter rules on redundancy, and a BHD100 increase in unemployment benefits.

The Bahraini government has announced a new employment initiative aimed at enhancing job placement for citizens. Under the scheme, the Ministry of Labour must provide three job opportunities to each registered job seeker before the end of the year. The programme spans both public and private sector roles, with the Ministry overseeing implementation and coordinating efforts across institutions and businesses. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry has confirmed its support and will collaborate with government agencies to expand employment options.

In parallel, three labour bills were referred by Shura’s Services Committee to the Office of the Council for listing at an upcoming sitting. One key proposal focuses on strengthening unemployment insurance, including a 30-day grace period for renewing work permits and tougher rules for redundancy-based terminations. The reforms also propose increasing unemployment benefits by BHD100, signalling a broader effort to improve labour protections.