SDG-8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth

Gulf University is dedicated to supporting the Kingdom’s endeavors in achieving SDG 8, which focuses on Decent Work and Economic Growth. Through close collaboration with the government and private sector, GU is committed to developing and implementing innovative solutions to address issues of decent work and economic development. Advocating the faculty representative elections, Sports Day for faculty, staff and students, arranging Iftar Saem in Ramadhan, celebrating Bahraini Women day by honoring the female staff and arranging staff development programs,

Additionally, GU provide its employees annual leave and other leaves for personal reasons such as maternity leave and family leave. The university also provides a clear appeal process for addressing any complaints or grievances. Information on the appeal process and faculty policies is readily available on the GU website. GU is actively participating in shaping a more sustainable future for Bahrain while contributing to the attainment of SDG 8. Through the proactive engagement of the faculty and staff, GU established Happiness Committee, which plays a pivotal role in enhancing staff well-being, aligning with the global aim of promoting lasting, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, alongside promoting full and productive employment and decent work opportunities for all.

The Bahraini government efforts to achieve SDG 8, and is committed to sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. The government has implemented several policies and initiatives to promote economic growth and create job opportunities. These include attracting foreign investment, promoting entrepreneurship, and investing in infrastructure development. The government is also committed to promoting decent work and ensuring the rights of workers through labor laws and regulations.

Policies & initiatives by Bahrain to support SDG 8

Labour Market Reform   

The National Employment Program, launched in 2019, comprised of four key initiatives: launching an awareness campaign to encourage citizens to register, hence improving labour market records, increasing unemployment compensation, increasing expatriate fees, and redesigning Tamkeen’s Training and Wage Support Program. A year later, the National Employment Program 2.0 was launched, offering wage support for Bahraini job seekers and new graduates registered with the Ministry of Labour for a period of up to 36 months. Under the Economic Recovery Plan in 2021, the Government launched initiatives to further empower Bahraini youth and facilitate their entry into the private sector. These measures have successfully led to the employment of 29,995 Bahrainis in 2022, surpassing the annual target of 20,000.The Ministry of Labour continues to explore different innovative ways to train Bahrainis and connect them with employers, including electronic job fairs; the launch of a digital portal for job seekers; the provision of professional training and career guidance; and apprenticeship programs. The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) is responsible for regulating expatriate employment with the aim of maintaining an organized labour market that meets the needs of its users, preserves the rights of all its parties, achieves social security, and ensures economic growth. Key protections available to expatriate employees include the establishment of the Wage Protection System, that went into effect in May 2021, which gives the LMRA visibility to monitor the payment of salaries to employees, and the establishment of the ‘Expat Protection Center’, a central hub curated towards providing services to expatriate employees, which includes a legal clinic to provide legal support and assistance in filing cases, passport retrieval services, and a shelter for victims and potential victims of human trafficking.  

Tamkeen    

Bahrain’s Labour fund, Tamkeen, has a dual mandate of making the private sector the key driver of economic growth and making Bahrainis the employees of choice. On the human development support programs front, Tamkeen prioritizes programs that lead to employment, skills, and career development for Bahrainis. Programs include: the Mid-Career & Executive Leadership program which provides wage subsidies to hire and promote experienced Bahrainis; the Global-Ready Entrepreneur program which covers 70 percent of the cost of participating in reputable overseas structured entrepreneurial programs; and the Train and Grow program, which provides financial support to enterprises to facilitate training and wage increments for their Bahraini employees.