An estimated 80,000 people are employed in the retail industry, of whom only 12 per cent are Bahraini, it was revealed.

Bahrain International Retail Development Centre (BIRD) general manager Isa Sayyar said companies and job-seekers should benefit from professional training programmes in the retail sector to further increase Bahrainisation levels. Such programmes would help implement the government's Bahrainisation policies, he said.

'The retail sector must be serious about preparing the local workforce by providing them with proper education and training in professional retail qualifications.'

The Labour and Social Affairs Ministry had stated on a number of occasions that it was speeding up the employment of Bahrainis in several areas of the retail sectors, including department stores, travel and tourism agencies, car dealers and furniture showrooms, offering more than 4,000 job opportunities.

Sayyar was speaking at a ceremony marking the graduation of seven Bahrainis for completing a Diploma in Retailing - certified by City and Guilds - at BIRD. The ceremony was held under the patronage of Labour and Social Affairs Ministry Assistant Under-Secretary Abdulelah Al Qassimi.

'Although no comprehensive data is available yet on the retail sector, current estimates on the number of workers in the industry show that there are 80,000 employees, who represent about 26 per cent of the total manpower,' said Sayyar.

He said Bahrainis constituted 12 per cent of the sector and that only 29 per cent of the 32,000 workers in the sector are covered by social insurance. 'The retail sector in Bahrain currently lacks local manpower with retail management skills,' added Sayyar.

He said the programme, which was held for the third time, aimed at developing the skills of Bahrainis who were seeking a career in the retail sector.

Sayyar said BIRD would launch two professional programmes - Retail Management Diploma and Basic Certificate in Retailing - later this year. The trainees, who were honoured at the ceremony, are employees at Bahrain Duty Free, Ashrafs, A A Bin Hindi, Al Hawaj and BMMI.-TradeArabia News Service