Just over a year away, around October 2006, people will have yet another go at selecting their representatives in parliament. Once again, the power will be in our own hands to have a say, small as that may be, in how our country should be run.
With that event looming closer and closer on the horizon, there seems to be an escalation of activities by the government and its opposition, the latest of which is politicisation of the thorny issue of unemployment.
I personally don’t know why the so called “Unemployment Committee” has chosen the path that naturally lead to conflict with the government. I fully realise that making any form of advance in the issue of unemployment will take some time. It won’t happen overnight, it requires re-education, vocational training, and much more importantly a full change in the Bahraini employee’s psyche to respect the job he has been given. The government has taken the initiative under the Crown Prince with MacKinsey’s consultation on how to tackle the situation. Regardless of how you or I view MacKinsey, it is an honest attempt to fix a problem and the research was factual and scary. 100,000 unemployed by 2013 if things aren’t fixed.
In my mind, with all of this happening, with the complete retooling of the Bahrain Training Institute, with the various jobs on offer by the Ministry of Labour, and the various steps to fix the other necessary problems with the country including the economy and education systems, can someone explain to me what the goals of the Unemployment Committee actually are?
They want jobs. The government is working toward that goal as it fully recognises that if it doesn’t they might as well pack up and go. Does the Unemployment Committee want IMMEDIATE fixes? How? Do they expect that every single unemployed would magically find a position at the Ministry of Interior and Defence Forces? That is completely impractical. Just imagine that the Ministry of Interior does magically release the 52% foreign workforce it has and replaces those immediately with unskilled and untrained Bahrainis. What would actually happen? Number one we can forget about security in the country, and number 2 complete chaos and breakdown of the rule of law. The same goes for the Defence forces. Patience, is a huge virtue in this case.
The only contribution the Unemployment Committee is doing in my mind is delaying the implementation of the various schemes designed to eradicate the problem.
The government however is at fault as well in that it has demonstrated it’s short temper with these demonstrators. Why resort to severe beatings like these? 33 people have been admitted (arabic) with various injuries, one of them said to be serious.
Did the riot police really needed to use that much force to break up a demonstration? I don’t think so, they most probably received instructions to “teach them a lesson” so that they won’t dare come out and demonstrate again. Regardless of the nature of the demonstration, the police’s first and foremost duty is to protect people, not go like political apes and beat the shit out of demonstrators. Even if those demonstrators wanted to pelt the parliament with excrement. Isolate those who do and take them to court, but it is absolutely not within their rights to use inordinate amount of force to break up a demo. My advice to the police is to have patience, and invest in water jets or foam to break up demos if you must. Not batons to break bones and crack skulls.
I hope that human rights societies do something about this situation on both sides.
This is the very last thing that Bahrain needs.
Guys, learn to sit at a table and fix the problem, rather this continuous and exhausting chicken game.
Comments
Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
Dear Anon
I love the way you simplify life to the maximum… Wake up sweetheart, we’re not in wonderland! plus the government you are talking about is no that of a poor country like india that can’t afford to give the people their rights… our island is floating on oil honey so wake up and smell the petrol…:)
AS
Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
Can you live with half of what you’re getting annon? You type, so I assume you can afford a computer and electricity. The cheapest flat you can find is for 150 (if you’re lucky, in the worst place in town). Subtract that from the minimum wage, and you’re left with less than zero.
Of course throwing food at the parliment is not the solution, but beating them up certainly isnt. If we just had the right people at both sides, we would be much better off.
Re: Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
There is no rule or law that says you are entitled to survive and thrive by having ONE well paying job. Jobs are available to those who truly wish to better themselves. Hotels are crying for workers yet few are doing it? Why? Wouldn’t have something to do with that stinging thing called pride would it?
Sometimes you might have to work two jobs. Sometimes three. Perhaps 2 jobs and in school as well. It isn’t fun but life isn’t always fun and games and checks in the mail either. The bottom line is attitudes on both sides must change but the unemployed worker must make herself or himself available and willing to start at the bottom and work up to the top.
Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
Anonymous wrote:
————————- begin nonsense quote ——————————–
“But the question is “Brutality will it make the problem disappear?”
answer is yes. Once you try every other thing and doesnt work, brutality is the only choice you have. Plus, let me tell you a little secret
these people are not there for the unemployment reason or for the life standard in Bahrain,, their political plan Behind is far bigger than this!!!”
————————- end nonsense quote ———————————–
Dear anonymous. I’ve got news for you. You sectarian boys have been trying
brutality for a long, long time and it _hasn’t_ worked. If you don’t wake up
your sectarian prejudices will bring this country, this region, this entire
planet to its knees. Oh, and it’s no secret, OK?
Oh, and as for their “plan Behind”, can you tell us what it is? Or have you yet
to flesh out your paranoia?
Anyway, back to the question. Here’s my dramatic reconstruction …
Up to the 70’s Bahraini’s were learning trades and acquiring skills. Even in the
80’s employers and those in need knew that they could get a good pipe-fitter
or plumber from Karranah, for example. The process of development was
happening naturally. What changed?
It’s easy: outsourcing. Certain rich traders, who, despite being Muslims, were
and are hardened free-market-fundamentalists when it comes to saving a dime.
They didn’t want to pay Bahrainis 3 rupees per day when they could pay a
Keralite 1 rupee a day. The Keralite looked upon his payment as something
that would accumulate and appreciate in value considerably when he got it
back to his homeland, so he kowtowed and worked like a dog in harsh conditions.
Many Bahrainis saw this and didn’t like it. The money they were getting wasn’t
making them rich. They couldn’t get as much value out of 3 rupees in Bahrain
as an expat labourer could get out of 1 rupee in Kerala, after all. And so, as
a reward for their hard work, they were pushed aside in favour of the poor
expat labourer. Not surprisingly, those who could turned away in disgust and
taught their kids to do the same.
And here we are in … the future! The youth of Bahrain have been fed a diet
of American TV and cinema. They see music, film, fashion, cars, teens in
tight trousers … a damn good time! All rubbed in their faces 24/7 – and be
assured that they want a piece! They’ve seen the great and good of Bahrain
society do well in business and then drive their German car up and down in
Adliya with their foreign girlfriends in the passenger seat, so why not them?
Why shouldn’t they get the corner office, the fast track, the company car,
the government job? I don’t know how to tell them why not. Do any of you?
Another thing; we are seeing the results of 30 years or more of outsourcing.
O ye Bahrainis! Please come up with workable solutions to your employment
problems! We Westerners are only just starting to get to grips with this kind
of global competition and some of us would value your experience.
Scott
Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
I got one q:
those eggs and tomatoes that were to be thrown? were those fresh or rotten ones?
just a thought that if they were fresh ones then it’s a fact that you have some people in Bahrain who sleep everynight without the proper 3 meals/day (i’m talking about new children here), kids whose parent’s can’t afford to buy them a lunch or dinner or the parents who themselves go without eating. Now if any ‘fresh’ tomatoes or eggs were gonna’ be thrown, then i’m sorry to say this but it would be a total waste of good food which could be channeled towards kids in need.
On the other hand, if they were rotten tomatoes or eggs, why waste them as objects to be thrown at concrete walls or lay upon dusty roads? Those rotten consumables could do as fresh manure for the palm trees that dot Bahrain’s highways or better yet take them to places like Buri or Jannabiya where you get farms and fields of vegetables being cultivated – they’d make the soil richer and the end product would be ripe and fresh 🙂
So may those tomatoes or eggs been fresh or rotten they could’ve been easily used for environmental purposes or the another step towards feeding hungry children in Bahrain instead of just using them as objects to be thrown about at demonstrations/protests.
cheers,
strav
[my passwd is in my inbox, thanks mahmood, i’ll sign on with it next time]
Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
Bahrain atleast is more vocal and open about unemployment compared to other countries in the Gulf such as Saudi and Kuwait. The government really needs to spend more and more money on education, instead of paying for the defence for send that person to learn something. In the long run it is a big return in investment.
.nibaq
Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
I think the problem is not just the number of jobs available but the kind of job available.
Gulf nationals are increasingly being forced to accept low level jobs with garbage salaries. You can’t offer this to a man when he sees a so called “expat” (Expat is a term given to a man who has left his OWN country, ie. A Brit in Bahrain is an expatriate in Britain, but in Bahrain he’s just an alien – and before you laugh an alien does not really mean ET, it means someone not indigenous to a certain place) riding around in a mercedes and living in luxury, why should he have to clean toilets, or pump gas? BD 200 or 300 is not enough for anything. In Europe a sales executive or a clerk can possibly buy a house (maybe not in a great area but he can still think about it) but in Bahrain if you have that kind of job you can’t even rent an apartment.
What we are seeing is not a heavy handed government but a heavy handed class of money grabbing business men who don’t want to share ANY of their wealth. The let them eat cake attitude of certain individuals will be their downfall.
Yes, some Bahrainis are lazy but not all of them. At the end of the day people want money and if you’re not going to give it to them, they are going to take it by force.
Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
In Bahrain they give homes with 25 years morgages
and its not even a morgage its like you work for the goverment for 25 years then u get the home and u can use it during those 25 years and it comes with a salary
Bahrain has free education and free hospital treatment
and no taxes, BEAT THAT!
and if u have the qualifacations trust you willget the job as the Bahraini would be cheaper by salary, maybe the european would get 1200 the bahraini would get 900 or 1000, and its only natural that guy is living out of his country he need more money. Bu tthe thing is that the foriegn skills and knowledge usually are far more better than the Bahraini ones. If you go intoa company and find 10 employees, 9 “aliens” and 1 Bahraini. You can pretty much guess that only One Bahraini come to that level of expertise, the others are not as good and if they were you would see them around.
But the question is “Brutality will it make the problem disappear?”
answer is yes. Once you try every other thing and doesnt work, brutality is the only choice you have. Plus, let me tell you a little secret
these people are not there for the unemployment reason or for the life standard in Bahrain,, their political plan Behind is far bigger than this!!!
Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
Salamu aleykkum Mahmoud,
I agree on the Unemployment committee, they have the same thing in Saudi Arabia and all they could do is come out with a law that says that for every N foreigners (I don’t recall the number) a Saudi must be hired.
This has brought to cases of companies I have witnessed where they hire Saudis just to have them on payslip, and then tell them to stay home since they are quite useless (when they don’t do damage).
Nice blog you have – I have just started mine and I can see we share the same style. I’d welcome a visit on http://re-immigration.blogspot.com/
Take care,
mac
Re: Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
A friend told me this morning that they deserve it, yestahloon, and I can understand what he’s saying as the “committee” has done more damage to the unemployed cause than anyone else could have. They have certainly lost any credibility they might have had because people are now very suspicious of their motives, which is plainly political rather than trying to find a solution to their problems.
Having Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja fronting that organisation did even more damage. As that guy would stop at nothing less than changing the regime by force… either that or he’s a bona fide masochist who loves to be beaten time and again.
I am disappointed that Nabil Rajab has now entered the fray though. He should have distanced himself from the BCHR AND Khawaja and started something better.
Even with all of this, I never would advocate violence. There MUST be a way to enter a beneficial dialogue to arrive at solutions.
Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
Brutality can be seen in 2 ways. Hurting your people or being brutal to your own whims and fancies and helping your people.
Due to various reasons including lack of confidence in the public, this country has a messed up demography. So Bahrainis wonder why the country is polices and defended by foreigners.
I am examined various views and come to the conclusion that the solution is not so simple. However the following can be done.
1. Re-educate people through councelling, TV programs, Evening classes about the need to change their lives. Instead of sitting at home and producing litters (I am sorry, I know this is a touch issue but it is true), (stretch you legs as fare as your blanket will go) re-educate your selves, learn new skills and start your own business, like having your own cafe, flower shop, etc.
2. Make a compulsory grade system for wage applicaion for government adn private companies. This way every one gets a fare share of the profits. register the grade with the government for proper monitoring and GOSI payments.
3. Make the GOSI accounts public and transparent. (I know this is a dream)
4. Amend labour rules that are far to all and make sure all rules are followed. Do not kiss the public’s ass and screw the employer for firing a failing Bahraini.
5. Start slowly replacing expats in all government institutions.
5a. Retrain Bahrainis to speak better Arabic, English, Persian, French, German, and other languages.
5b. Encourage Family planning by showing them that they do not necessarrily have to produce more kids to please any one. Have as many as you can afford to look after without being a burden on the govenment.
6. Get people to understand that sitting in their houses and moning about low paid jobs will not help. Take that low paying job, learn new skills, improve your knowledge about the work force, improve your skills, look for a better job meanwhile. This way since you do have to pay rent and utilities, you can save some money and help your parents out with their expenses instead of being a burden on them. This way the govenment does not have to be burdened with paying stipends.
What the misguided public did was wrong and what the police did was wrong too. Mahmood is write. These thing take time. Meanwhile the govenment can implement what I have suggested and it may solve some problems.
People here have no idea what is democracy. They cannot even allow them selves not to be misguided so how cn they handle power if it is in their hands. You will have another country like Iran and its multitude of problems on hand. That is a step 100 years back or more.
Get real, get working, get learning, get smart and go get a job. It is your duty not to be a burden to your country.
Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
Someone a little on the “silly” side of life with a good point of [url=http://sillynotes.blogspirit.com/archive/2005/07/12/reluctant-job-seekers-shunning-a-world-of-opportunities.html]view on the employment problem[/url].
ed: corrected hyperlink
Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
I think what happened was brutal on the part of the police force, brutality is not the answer. But what the so-called “unemplyed committee” did was even worse, the problem with these guys is that they are taking the whole problem personally, they think that becasue they are not from the Sunni sect, they are being treated unfairly. I think the only way they can get to a proper solution to the unemployment dilemma is NOT TO TAKE IT PERSONALLY. Politics is business, and business is business, so try to get to comprehensive solutions, thru dialogue rather than using the Medival way of throwing eggs and tomatoes, no amount of salad ingredients will get you what you want!
Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
if you ask me i do not see how the goverment is blamed for unemployment…
if you dont have a job start a business…now u r all asking from where do they start business and they have no money, well there are investors, there are people with big money who dont even mind not lending but giving away some. Even with out it you can save on minimum and start a very tiny thing. Mahmood knows for sure that u can start from “0” , thats nothing but people are too lazy.
plus I know those people hve been offered job but they wanta job on their own describtion and taste. Of what I know from economics is that an unemployed is some one who
-is look for a job in the past 3 weeks
-some one who does not find any job
and there are two more rules i guess
any how, those people are offered jobs with the minimum salary in the country i hear
but NOOOOOOO they want something better. Well ok sure every one something better, but guess what
if you refuse a job with the minimum legal salary you are not even considered unemployed you are considered some one who is pain on society and will not work but only as he wish….who is creating the problem now?
if you say you have expertise good enough, travel outside bahrain show me if your expertise is going to hire you any where….Wages are higher and standard of living would be better as they say those two variables are very low in bahrain. I can bet anything they will get back to the country because theya re not good enough…
Not all, but the majority and trust me those with the good enough expertise will get a job
Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
No one seriously believes that Friday’s protest was about unemployment. Khawaja’s lined up alongside Bahrain’s slave wage employers to oppose McKinsey.
Re(2): Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
Malik, I unequivocally agree with you on this subject! That makes me really really happy! 🙂
Re(3): Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
[quote]Malik, I unequivocally agree with you on this subject! That makes me really really happy! [/quote]
The omens are in, looks like it is to be a good week then! Is bachelorhood still fun? Or have you gotten over the fun part and are looking forward to them coming back?
Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
A couple of points:
To the Joker: Rent levels: BD150 – you can get a 2 bed house in Khamis with a garden – I know because I know epople who have recently move in. BD150 will also get you a reasonable 1 bed flat off Exhibition Road or BD200 for a 2 bed and 2 bath.
On the subject of hiring expats or Bahrainis, my preference is ALWAYS for Bahrainis. The day that I can make myself redundant, I’ll be truly happy because it means that Bahrain has a suffciient labour pool of hard working highly skilled people in my field who have uncompromised decision making abilities.
The rights or wrongs of protests I am not interested in commenting on but I would urge anyone who opposes current policies to develop detailed, benchmarked policy documents to present as a realistic alternative.
The Johnster
Re(4): Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
The above was my comment.
Re(4): Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
still fun!
Re: Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
I’m very surprised with what you are saying and I wonder if you really live in Bahrain.
Let me just correct what have you said based on the REAL existing situation here in Bahrain as myself and other experiencing everyday:
[quote]”In Bahrain they give homes with 25 years mortgages”[/quote]
Are you sure of that today? And how many years you have to wait to get that home?
10 -15 years? And just to keep you updated they are not giving homes any more and you know what even if you have paid the full amount after 25 years, the ownership paper that you will get has this sentence “ This is a kind “Grant” from Bahrain Amir “ .., yes a “grant” which you spent 25 years paying for it, If you are still not convinced let me have you email and I will pass to you the ownership paper they gave my father.
[quote]Free Education, Free Treatment & No Taxes..[/quote]
Ok, this is obviously right, but again I don’t think you are benchmarking a small rich country located in the gulf with a country like angola (no offense) right?, About not paying Tax let let’s think about it logically, in a FAIR Tax system who would pay TAX more, the rich business men people or those who occupy high positions in their organizations?, and knowing Bahrain who are those business men and executives employees ? Of course you know, those from royal family and the people close to them. Do you expect the government to force those to give away part of their wealth?
[quote]”.. and if u have the qualifications trust you will get the job as the Bahraini would be cheaper by salary, may be the European would get 1200 the Bahraini would get 900 or 1000 ” ?[/quote]
How do you know this for fact?, I know lots of highly qualified people suffering from not having a chance to work anywhere , I’m talking here about hard worker indivilals with not less than Master degree and you know what, there are jobs out there but the discrimination is everywhere and if you like we can have a big debate about that. About expat you really made me laugh, BD 200 or 300 more only?, excuse me but you appear to live in different country,. My dear let me tell you something from someone who works in one of the biggest corporates in Bahrain (1500+ employees), expat from Europe are getting not less than 3 times our salaries for doing the same thing exactly. I myself have experienced that for years and at the time I was getting around BD 650 my collogue (a British one) was receiving a basic salary of BD 3000 plus of course other standard expat benefits. You might argue that he is an expert, well I was more qualified than him and even our direct boss was not happy with his performance but couldn’t get rid of him for reasons we all know and guess what he got a promotion and I’m still struggling. This is personal experience of course but I know many people who would tell you similar stories and I’m not talking here about uneducated people I’m talking about top of the list people who were first in their studies and work really hard to build their career.
[quote]”Once you try every other thing and doesn’t work, brutality is the only choice you have?”[/quote]
Well in my opinion, this is absolutely true but only if you want to take Saddam Hussein as an example for you on “How to mange your country and treat your citizens�.
[quote]Plus, let me tell you a little secret these people are not there for the unemployment reason or for the life standard in Bahrain,, their political plan Behind is far bigger than this!!![/quote]
Yeah, right, the government have been using this scarecrow for the last 20 years so sorry to say that your secert is not that confedetial, every in Bahrain knows that by heart and it just seems the answer to all questions the government couldn’t answer .I have a better advice , by utilizing the same consultet they hire to dircet the “methaq� movie “Addmit it , it was a create act�, I’m saying let them come with something more creative to be belived by the majority of pepole here something other than playing the same old disc of “Political Plan linked to Iran Revolution� …
Regards
E.M.
Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
Johnster ..
It is much easier to point fingers and blame than come up with an alternative plan of action. And, so far, the ones who are coming with plans are politically and religiously motivated. And I am not sure I like their plan.
Re: Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
Here’re a couple of plans:
1. Prepare a good and factual CV (without spelling mistakes, etc.)
2. Get a recent copy of the Yellow Pages, find the section of the market you’re most interested in
3. Get properly dressed, no slippers please, pressed shirt and trousers or thobe
4. Get a good hair cut, and shave
5. Deoderant would be nice too
6. GO to the offices you have short listed and hand in your CV AFTER you have secured a short appointment with the relevant manager
This is almost guaranteed to get you a job.
PLAN #2:
1. Find out what you’re really good at
2. Borrow or beg some start up money
3. Go into business, this is ESPECIALLY easy now as they have reduced ALL business registration fees down to just BD 10 ($26.5) for ANY business, so you can afford to fail!
4. Work hard
I could go on.
But EVERY single job seeker should have NIKE on their brains: “Just Do It!” I know it has become a cliche now, but it is so very true.
Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
And Mahmood, you should add….
7) Once you have secured the job, turn up on time everyday, stay til the end of the day and don’t answer phone calls during meetings with you boss
🙂
….ok ok, I am bored and have to pass the time somehow. Watching the changing colours of the sand in the air of downtown Manama has its limitations
Re(1): Brutality, will it make the problem disappear?
Good post Mahmood. As a person who hires, I can say you are spot on. I dont know how many times I have seen CVs/Resumes come across my desk with numerous spelling errors and formats that are awful. I dont know how many times I have seen resumes from people with PhDs that wouldnt get them hired at McDonalds. I know they have people who do all of their writing for them, from papers to grant proposals, but dont you think they could take more time doing their CV/Resume, or at least have one of the usual do the thing for them?
Another hint, when looking for a job make sure you do a bit of research about the company in question. Showing up for an interview with a wealth of knowledge about the job and the company is impressive. Show interest and excitment for the job, and dont tell them you are looking for a job because you want to make more money. The employer will get the idea you will be off at the first offer of a bigger pay packet.
For those going to school make sure you pick the right major. Certain majors are at very high demand and will be for sometime. Research the degree you are going for and see its relevent value in the market place. If you want to work with computers, for instance, an Electrical Engineering degree is MUCH more useful than a degree in Information Sciences, or Computer Science(at the Bachelor’s level). Think about double degrees that you can get without much extra effort but that will inhance your appeal to employers, ie often you can get a double physics degree with your Electrical Engineering degree and only have to take another semester or so of classes.
But the most important thing to remember to those looking for a job is to remember that the act of looking for a job is a fulltime job itself.
Amnesty Int’l strongly condemns police action against demonstrators
I can picture next year’s Bahrain’s Human Rights Index. Can’t you? And will this most probably degraded index actually help in bringing in sorely needed businesses into Bahrain which might reduce the problem of unemployment which the EDB is fighting tooth and nail to get going?
Re: Amnesty Int’l strongly condemns police action against demonstrators
FIDH has also issued a statement against the police brutality:
http://www.fidh.org/article.php3?id_article=2564