The U.S State Department Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs announced, according to the UNDP, that unemployment rate in Bahrain is between 15-20%. The announced rate is far higher than that announced by the Bahraini Authority (4.8%). The big difference between the two rates reflects the Authority’s corruption and lack of transparency in such sensitive national issues.
Al Wefaq National Islamic Society said the real unemployment rate reflects the regime’s failure and evading of the law and State-institutions by publishing a fake unemployment rate. This represents one of the main problems that reflect the depth of the political crisis between the people and the regime.
The actual unemployment rate, however, may be far higher than 20% considering thousands of unemployed citizens have taken jobs that do not suit their qualifications. These citizens have been recorded in employment records while they are seeking opportunities that suit their academic qualifications. If the number of those employed in jobs lower than their qualifications was included, the unemployment rate may double, highlighting an indication of the regime’s failure to provide appropriate jobs for citizens.
Yet, the unemployment problem in Bahrain is strongly linked to the systematic discrimination practiced by the regime on sectarian grounds. Employees and workers face widely practiced discrimination in recruitment and promotion.
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