The number of lay-offs has dropped in Bahrain despite the global meltdown which threatens to disrupt labour markets in the world, said a Labour Ministry official.

The number of complaints filed by terminated employees dropped to 2,821 last year from 3,442 in 2007, revealed assistant under-secretary Jameel Humaidan.

The number of complaints reported last month was 159, compared with 231 in December 2007, he noted.

The ministry said 221 cases were registered last November down from 308 in November 2007.

He highlighted the ministry's efforts to avert any "unjustified lay-offs and preserve labour market stability".

Humaidan also reiterated the ministry's resolve to continue efforts aimed at improving work environment, particularly in the private sector.

"We are doubling efforts in co-ordination with the public and private sector to contain any recession hitting job creation in the future", he said.

The focus, Humaidan said, will be put on certain key sectors which attract qualified Bahraini workforce.

He said the "vacancy bank", a brainchild of the labour ministry, would be revamped to serve as a jobs reservoir.-TradeArabia News Service