Cairo: Bahrain’s parliament has approved a proposal giving the kingdom’s citizens a preference in jobs of private schools amid a vigorous campaign to replace migrant workers with Bahraini.
The Council of Representatives has approved the proposal and referred it to the government to prepare a related draft law, Bahraini newspaper Al Watan reported.
While voicing backing for the proposal, Secretary-General of the Higher Education Council Abdulghani Al Sheweikh said that the Education Ministry has no control on employment in private schools and that its role is limited to oversight.
For MP Isa Al Dasuri, the proposal is set to narrow the gap between university education and job market needs as well as boost Bahrainisation.
“There are over 3,000 foreign teachers in public schools while Bahrainis are employed in private schools for two years until they get state support and then they [schools] lay them off,” MP Masuma Abdulrahim said.
Last month, a Bahraini parliamentary committee approved a draft bill obliging employers to give job preferences to citizens.
The draft commits employers to check records of Bahraini job-seekers and hire the qualified citizens.
Failure to comply with the regulations will be punishable by a fine ranging from BD5,000 to 20,000.
