Equalizing costs between expats and Bahrainis through the use of labour fees and other policy levers will allow Bahrainis to compete with expats on a level-playing field. As long as Bahrainis are able to demonstrate the required work ethic, good attitude, and basic skills, employers will not have a cost incentive to hire expats. Private sector employers will instead have a strong incentive to find Bahrainis to employ before hiring expats. Moreover, the proposed policy package includes a series of employment programs that will subsidize Bahraini employment through wage subsidies, better matchmaking between employers and prospective employees, and basic job readiness training. Employers will hire Bahrainis because it makes good business sense rather than because they are forced to by the government.

During the transition period, Bahrainisation will not be eliminated all at once to ensure Bahrainis do not experience unnecessary dislocation. Rather, private sector employers will have to maintain their current number of Bahraini workers for three years, until the labour fees have been implemented fully.