Bahrain-based Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (Asry) said its strategic policy of investing in the nation's workforce has reached a total spend of BD2.6 million ($7 million) in five years, with more planned.

One of Asry's specific initiatives in this period of reinvestment is commitment to Bahrainisation, said its top official.

'Asry is keen to attract competencies in general and competent Bahraini employees in particular in its business areas,' remarked chairman Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa.

He said productivity at Asry had seen tangible improvements due to the in-house training network of its training centre in conjunction with external courses and overseas participation at reputed training and development institutions specialised in shipbuilding and repair work.

'Bahrainisation at Asry stands at 45 per cent, which is impressive considering the largely industrial nature of its labour, and provides a leading platform to contribute to the national economy.

'To improve specialised competencies, Asry sets professional strategies to develop national cadres to keep pace with global knowledge and practices.

'As a result of structural reorganisation, competent Bahraini employees have assumed higher positions in various areas.

'As part of our policy to empower women, female employees hold important positions within the company's hierarchy.'

He said Asry employees totalled 1,656 at the year-end, with special attention to recruiting 254 Bahrainis in leading positions, including 16 out of 40 female employees.

'This is a clear indication of the management's attention to employ Bahrainis in implementation of the Bahrainisation policy approved by the board,' he added.

Asry's training budget last year was $1.5m. The centre provided 1,004 training hours last year which benefited 1,272 employees in 33 programmes at training and educational institutions and universities in and outside Bahrain.-TradeArabia News Service