Please take my job – a brief analysis on the paradox of the Bahraini job market

We have problems that most countries would laugh about. To be more precise, we have problems that most of the world wishes they had instead of their own (war, poverty, disease, natural disasters etc.). One such problem is that Bahrainis are losing jobs to foreign workers. The good news is that we have jobs, and that people want to work in Bahrain. The bad news is that local Bahrainis are still unemployed (4-6% in general). On the other hand we have low crime, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, great infrastructure, an educated populace, a very cheap standard of living, free medical, free education, subsidized staples for all, and wealthy neighbors that keep our economy sustainable.

This nice life is attracting workers from all over the world to seek their fortunes, while the unemployed Bahraini sits on his sofa trying to change the channel unsuccessfully. This is a reality we can’t deny anymore. Even worse, it’s a reality we cannot ignore. The population explosion that’s taking place creates pressure on the economy and infrastructure; we bring in more workers from the outside as a valve to release that pressure, but then their needs put renewed pressure on our economy again.

What’s worse is that so much of our revenue and national wealth is being exported in the billions annually. There are many employment opportunities available that we just subcontract, such as construction workers, janitorial cleaners, watchmen, and garbage collectors. You sometimes see the odd Bahraini among the foreigners but in my opinion it’s not enough. Furthermore many secretaries, teachers, doctors, and managers are also foreign. They may have been needed in Bahrain’s infancy when we had a small population with limited education but I don’t believe that’s the case anymore. What’s worse is we could become like some of our neighbors that are 100% dependant on a foreign workforce. What happens WHEN the oil finishes? I hope we don’t have to crumble before we realize the need to become self-sufficient. The good news is that things are already shifting in the right direction, and they just need a push.

When I was a kid it was unheard of that a Bahraini would work at a gas pump, or in a fast food chain. I actually remember the first time I saw a Bahraini take my order in Dairy Queen Salmaniya. I immediately switched to speaking in Arabic and hoped this was the beginning of a trend. Thank God it was. Bahrainis had finally shifted to being normal-ish.

How can we encourage this shift? And how can we spur Bahrainis to infiltrate more jobs? (Keeping in mind that they have to be more qualified and harder working than their previous counterparts) Most importantly, how do we keep our national resources IN Bahrain? The current system punishes the employer and rewards the Bahraini. Most companies have a quota of Bahrainis they have to meet, and if you want to fire a Bahraini: Good luck. Whether he’s good or bad he’s keeping his job. You may disagree, but that’s generally how it is.

To me the answer is simple: First, we very slowly and carefully introduce a decent minimum wage system. I know that we already have one, and I also know that people will bypass the rules whenever they can. I’m not proposing an immediate solution, but I’m looking towards the next twenty years or so. In my opinion wages are too low in most cases, and we have a modern-day slavery system where the owners make millions and the laborers/workers get nothing for doing all the work. If wages are mandatorily increased and we introduce a PROPER minimum-wage program then we might start something good, if not great.

Secondly, we take off the life jacket, and throw us Bahrainis into the sea. When we need to swim we will, and when we need to compete we will. This quota system is constraining, goes against the general principles of an open market, and is absolutely abnormal. Bahrainis are ready to fight. Bahrainis are a very intelligent resourceful populace, and they can and will find a way to be better.

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