The Labour Minister of Bahrain, His Excellency Jameel Humaidan, has announced a new regulation that will require individuals in certain professions to obtain a licence and pass a skill assessment test in order to practice. This regulation is being developed by a joint team from various government entities, including the Ministry of Labour, Labour Fund (Tamkeen), Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), and Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI). The policy will involve issuing licences to private centres, institutes, and universities that are authorized to conduct these assessments.
The team has already set standards and professional requirements for 25 practical professions, such as welders, carpenters, car mechanics, and painters. The draft regulation is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet for final approval soon. The Minister emphasized the importance of this regulation in improving the quality of products and services, reducing the skills gap, and creating job opportunities for Bahrainis in these fields. Electricians, plumbers, and air conditioning repair technicians are excluded from this regulation as they are already covered by other government entities.
Tamkeen has played a key role in coordinating with the Ministry of Labour and business owners to update professional standards for these 25 professions. The Ministry of Labour will issue professional licences to individuals who pass the skill assessment, which will be conducted by authorized entities meeting international standards. Work permits will be revoked for workers who fail the assessment, and licences will be linked to work permits through an electronic system.
Special centres and private training institutes will be authorized to conduct these assessments, as will existing training institutes and universities. The joint team has engaged with international standards bodies to collaborate on setting standards for professional licensing and skill assessment. An electronic system for issuing professional licences is being developed by the Ministry of Labour, with support from Tamkeen for Bahrainis seeking to obtain licences in these professions.
Overall, this new regulation aims to ensure that individuals practicing certain professions in Bahrain meet the necessary standards and skills. It is expected to improve the quality of services and products, reduce the skills gap, and create more job opportunities for Bahrainis. By requiring individuals to obtain a licence and pass a skill assessment test, the government is taking steps to professionalize these industries and enhance workforce development in the country.
