Tamkeen and the Ministry of Labour run the Freelancers Support Initiative for young Bahrainis who want to work for themselves on a virtual commercial registration (Sijili).
Who qualifies
- Bahraini, 45 or younger when applying.
- Registered as a jobseeker with the Ministry of Labour beforehand.
- Less than 12 months of total work experience in SIO records.
- Holding a valid Sijili (or an active licence from the relevant regulator), and it must be your first CR, with a bank account in its name.
- Registered with SIO as a business owner, declaring an income of no less than BHD 450 a month.
- Applying within 6 months of creating the CR, and with no violations at Tamkeen, LMRA or other bodies.
What you get
- BHD 200 a month for 12 months.
- Social insurance registration costs covered for the same 12 months.
- Up to BHD 178 towards issuing and activating the Sijili, with up to three activities.
How: apply on Tamkeen's portal with your Sijili copy, proof of jobseeker status, SIO business-owner registration and proof of the linked bank account. After approval you accept the terms and claim each payment monthly through the portal.
The catch: the support is once only, and the 6-month clock starts when the CR is created. Register with SIO first and apply quickly.
Steps
- Register as a jobseeker with the Ministry of Labour.
- Create your first Sijili and open a bank account in its name.
- Register with SIO as a business owner declaring at least BHD 450 a month.
- Apply on Tamkeen's portal within 6 months of the CR.
- Claim the monthly payments through the portal.