Bahrain is preparing for a new parliamentary discussion on employment policy, following a proposal to establish a national artificial intelligence-powered platform designed to monitor job vacancies, analyse labour market needs and identify qualified Bahraini candidates for available positions across different economic sectors.

The proposal, submitted by MP Dr Munir Suroor, seeks to improve the way vacancies are matched with jobseekers by comparing educational qualifications, professional experience and required skills. It would also help identify sectors with significant reliance on expatriate workers and highlight positions that could potentially be filled by suitably qualified Bahraini citizens.

Under the proposed approach, the platform would generate regular reports on labour market demand, identify skills shortages and support the development of training programmes linked to actual employment opportunities. Supporters believe that better information and more accurate job matching could strengthen employment prospects for citizens while helping employers make recruitment decisions based on their genuine workforce requirements.

However, Bahrain’s Ministry of Labour has explained that several of these objectives are already addressed through interconnected electronic systems operated by the ministry, Tamkeen, the Labour Market Regulatory Authority and other public bodies. The existing National Employment Platform enables jobseekers to register their qualifications, apply for advertised vacancies and make their profiles available to potential employers.

The Information and eGovernment Authority has also confirmed that the Employability Skills Portal brings together data from 12 government entities, providing information on employment, wages, unemployment and labour market skills. More advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, including automated job classification, skills-gap forecasting and personalised training recommendations, remain part of future development plans.

Meanwhile, the Civil Service Bureau has reiterated that existing legislation gives Bahraini citizens priority for government positions. Recruitment of non-Bahrainis into such roles is subject to established conditions, including the absence of a suitably qualified Bahraini candidate. The bureau also highlighted electronic systems already used to advertise vacancies and facilitate recruitment within government organisations.

The parliamentary Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee has recommended approving the proposal, which is expected to be discussed at an upcoming parliamentary sitting. Importantly, the initiative remains a proposal under consideration rather than a newly implemented employment rule. It does not automatically cancel existing work permits or require employers to dismiss expatriate employees.

For Bahraini jobseekers, employers and expatriate residents, the discussion reflects continuing efforts to align recruitment and training policies with changing labour market requirements. Any practical changes would depend on subsequent official decisions and the applicable legal framework.

Source: Al Bilad Newspaper