Bahrain is continuing to reduce unemployment through the downturn with wide-ranging reform of the labour market, staff training, trade unionism and other key areas of focus, the country's labour minister Dr Majeed al Alawi has claimed.

In the last 16 months, unemployment in the country has dropped from 15 per cent to five per cent, an achievement that has won the minister much international recognition and acclaim.

Speaking to Arabian Business, Dr al Alawi explained that on August 1st, this ere of labour reform will enter a new era, when Bahrain will discontinue its sponsorship of expatriate workers to bring the country more in line with international labour markets.

Although the plan is not without its critics, Dr al Alawi is confident that the new system will promote a fairer deal for employees in the oil and gas industry and other key sectors and create a 21st century job market in the country.

Late last month, the Bahrain Petroleum Company also announced that it is to reform its scholarship programme that will help to address a skills shortfall facing the country's oil and gas industry.

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