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Al Dossary, right, and Al Rayes, left, with the Bahraini delegation
at the conference

Focus on SMEs as job creators to benefit Bahrain

MANAMA, June 3, 2015

A new international emphasis on turning small and medium enterprises (SMEs) into major job creators will be of great benefit to Bahrain, according to a top labour official.

Labour Ministry Under-Secretary Sabah Al Dossary welcomed a renewed focus on SMEs, which was called for by United Nations International Labour Organisation director-general Guy Ryder at the start of the 104th International Labour Conference in Geneva on Monday, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Ryder said such enterprises were "crucial to the global jobs challenge" and "can be promoted as creators of decent and productive employment".

"The topic was discussed in detail," said Mr Al Dossary, who along with Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) first deputy chairman Othman Al Rayes and other officials is part of a delegation attending the conference.

"Discussions centred on creating rewarding jobs in the SME segment and facilitating its transition from the inefficient to the efficient market.

"This comes at the right time for Bahrain, as we are keenly thinking in terms of diversifying the economy."

Al Dossary said that the Labour Ministry would now look at ways of adopting new methods to help SMEs.

"In Bahrain we have a situation where most jobseekers are focusing on the public sector for employment and are reluctant to approach the private sector as they find it difficult to find a job there," he said.

"Taking this situation into consideration, the Labour Ministry will put in additional effort to help these jobseekers get jobs in SMEs and to help youths set up their own businesses."

Smaller organisations allow greater room for growth among employees, Al Dossary said.

"Committed employees can grow individually and at the same time contribute to increased productivity, which in turn results in the growth of the company," he said.

"This helps SMEs grow into formal companies helping the individuals, the companies and the country."

Meanwhile, BCCI SMEs committee vice-chairman Hamed Fakhro said that the ILO recommendation should be embraced by Bahrain at a time of depressed oil prices and an increasing deficit.

"This move would help the transition of SMEs and start-up businesses from informality to formality, like those being done through social media such as Instagram," said Fakhro.

"These businesses have a high potential for growth and can support the country's economy.

”With the decline of oil prices and subsidies being lifted one by one, we need a push towards sustainability."

The 104th International Labour Conference in Geneva continues until June 13.

Around 4,000 delegates are in attendance, representing governments, workers and employers.

Other issues to be discussed include climate change, child labour and the protection of wages, working time and occupational health and safety. - TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Bahrain | SME | job | benefit |

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