Bahrain has announced a long-term master plan aimed at solving the unemployment problem among nationals, the Gulf News reported Tuesday.
In view of the seriousness of the problem, the weekly cabinet session was entirely devoted to discussing the unemployment plan, said the paper.
Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa was quoted by the daily as saying that “the top priority is to create new job opportunities for citizens and replace foreign workers with Bahrainis.”
In doing so, he said, the legal implications as well as the human, economic and social issues involved would be taken into consideration.
The issue of free visas for workers has become the focus of public debate, with many calling them one of the main reasons for unemployment among nationals.
Official unemployment among Bahraini nationals hit record levels in April, exceeding 9,600.
“The number of people seeking jobs increased to 9,670 by April 25, the highest number in several years," Labor and Social Affairs Minister Abdel-Nabi Al Shula said last month – Albawaba.com
