Labour Minister meets IMF delegation; highlights Bahrain’s experience in mitigating pandemic effects

Manama, Jan. 22 (BNA): Labour and Social Development Minister, Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, has held a virtual meeting with the advisory mission of the International Monetary Fund, led by Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin. The minister highlighted Bahrain’s experience in confronting the repercussions of the novel Coronavirus pandemic, the Economic Recovery Plan and programmes that support the stability of the labour market. Humaidan reviewed the kingdom’s efforts to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic, and be prepared for the post-COVID-19 period, citing Bahrain’s swift response to the pandemic through His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s order to launch an economic stimulus package worth more than BHD 4.5 billion in March 2019, to support the private sector, the citizens and the hardest-hit economic sectors. He affirmed that such measures had maintained the stability of the national workforce in the labour market, and distanced the private sector from the issue of layoffs. While referring to the Economic Recovery Plan, launched by the government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the minister said that the ambitious five-pillar plan is a roadmap for a brighter economic and fiscal future for the kingdom, as it targets to employ 20,000 Bahrainis and train 10,000 others annually. Humaidan also highlighted the success of the second edition of the National Employment Programme in finding job opportunities for more than 26,000 nationals in about 6,642 private institutions. He also pointed out that the Labour Ministry had succeeded in training over 12,000 nationals in 2021, in cooperation with the relevant authorities in order to bridge the gap between the outputs of education and the labour market’s requirements. He affirmed that the positive results prove the ability of the local labour market to generate more job opportunities for the national workforce.