MP Basema Mubarak has alleged that specific employers in Bahrain are misappropriating wage support funds provided by Tamkeen. According to the MP, these companies extract the subsidy payments from staff members after the financial assistance is issued. Basema Mubarak stated, "Once the support is transferred, the employer takes the money from the employee in cash."
Describing the need for increased regulatory scrutiny, she added, "We need stronger oversight of these companies that exploit citizens looking for work." Basema Mubarak also noted that employees share accountability for the practice if they comply with these demands. Regarding those participating in the arrangement, she remarked, "Workers who hand over the money to their employers instead of reporting them also bear some blame."
Allegations of Subsidy Abuse
Basema Mubarak alleged that a security company holding government contracts demanded cash payments from employees after the staff received Tamkeen wage subsidies. She described the employment practices linked to these government-contracted firms, noting that workers face instability when their specific project-based roles conclude. Regarding the duration of these engagements, Basema Mubarak stated, "They treat them as temporary workers. Once the programme ends, their employment ends too."
Formal inquiries have been initiated by the MP concerning the broader use of temporary project contracts for government staff. Basema Mubarak submitted a written parliamentary question to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Ghanim Al Buainain, to address the status of these employees. In this query, she questioned the reliance on non-permanent staffing arrangements within the public sector. Basema Mubarak remarked, "Is it reasonable for a project contract to last more than a year when we have vacancies, yet people are not being made permanent?"
Future oversight measures are scheduled for the coming month as part of the MP's effort to audit the impact of government-funded wage support. Basema Mubarak plans to question the Minister of Labour in November 2026. This inquiry will focus on the total number of workers currently receiving Tamkeen wage support. Additionally, the MP intends to request data regarding the number of employees who faced termination following the conclusion of their respective subsidy periods. These questions aim to determine whether the financial assistance provided by the programme translates into long-term job security for the Bahraini workforce.
