The Ministry of Labour, in collaboration with Tamkeen, the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), and the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is set to introduce a new regulation requiring mandatory skill assessments for 25 trades. This initiative aims to enhance the quality of services and products offered in the market, reduce skill gaps, and create more job opportunities for Bahrainis, revealed the Minister of Labour Jameel Humaidan in a response to a parliamentary inquiry submitted by MP Ahmed Al Saloom. The new regulation will require all individuals seeking to practice any of the 25 designated trades to obtain a license after passing a skill assessment exam. Failure to pass the exam will result in the withdrawal of work permits for foreign workers. The Ministry will also issue licenses to private centers, institutes, and universities to conduct skill assessments for these trades.
The 25 trades included in the regulation are varied and encompass professions such as welder, construction worker, automotive mechanic, operator of industrial equipment, and painter. The Minister of Labour emphasized that the regulation will not apply to professions such as electricians, plumbers, and air conditioning technicians, as they are regulated by other government entities. The ministry, in coordination with Tamkeen and relevant businesses, has updated the professional standards for the 25 trades by defining job descriptions, career paths, and relevant sectors. Key tasks, technical skills, and required behavior and training standards for each trade have also been established. This will help ensure that individuals in these trades meet the necessary standards to provide high-quality services.
The Ministry will be responsible for issuing professional licenses to individuals who successfully pass the skill assessment exam. The assessments will be conducted by both government and private entities that meet international standards set by the Ministry in collaboration with Tamkeen. Licenses will also be granted to institutions wishing to conduct skill assessments, as well as assessors who will work for these institutions. The professional licenses will be linked to work permits for both registered expatriate workers and employees of businesses. This integration will ensure that workers who do not pass the required skill assessment exam will have their work permits automatically suspended.
Private centers with commercial registration for skill assessment activities, private training institutes conducting skill assessments alongside training programs, and existing training institutes and universities will be authorized to conduct skill assessments for specific trades. The Ministry has already held discussions with several private institutions, many of which have expressed their willingness to participate in this initiative. By working together with various entities and stakeholders, the Ministry aims to ensure that individuals in the designated trades possess the necessary skills and qualifications to provide quality services and products in the market. This, in turn, will help create more job opportunities for Bahrainis and contribute to the overall improvement of the workforce in the country.
Overall, the introduction of mandatory skill assessments for 25 trades in Bahrain represents a significant step towards enhancing the quality of services and products offered in the market, reducing skill gaps, and creating more job opportunities for Bahrainis. This initiative, led by the Ministry of Labour in collaboration with other key stakeholders, aims to ensure that individuals in the designated trades meet the necessary standards and qualifications to provide high-quality services. By issuing professional licenses linked to work permits, the Ministry will help regulate the workforce in these trades and ensure that individuals possess the required skills and training. Through partnerships with private institutions and universities, the Ministry aims to conduct skill assessments that meet international standards and contribute to the overall improvement of the workforce in Bahrain.
