HRH Crown Prince chairs Cabinet meeting
His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, chaired at Gudaibiya Palace today the Cabinet regular meeting. The ministerial council praised His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s keynote speech, delivered on his behalf by Deputy Premier Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa during the opening of the 36th Aseela Arts Festival in Morocco in which the Kingdom of Bahrain was the guest of honour. The speech confirmed the Kingdom’s unwavering resolve to carry on its democratic march and support joint GCC and pan-Arab work while taking into account the importance of building on common grounds that will lead to forming social groups that are based on solidarity and cooperation and benefiting from the experiences of others. The Cabinet was briefed on the ongoing efforts of the Executive Committee in dealing with what was presented in the National Audit Office report. It requested the Minister of Interior to prepare a report on the issues that had been referred by the government to the Public Prosecutor. The council approved a memorandum presented by Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy President of the Civil Service Bureau on the criteria and rules for granting bonuses to the heads and members of government boards and committees. Those bonuses should be granted in accordance with the law, decrees or edicts issued by the Prime Minister. The memorandum also specified the responsibilities of the relevant government entities and the procedures for the implementation of Decree No. (19) of 2014 on those bonuses. The Cabinet also discussed a memorandum presented by the Minister of State for Follow-up Affairs concerning the follow-up on the implementation of the Government Action Plan (2011-2014). The memorandum included mainly the follow-up on the implementation of the Government Action Plan in 38 ministries and government entities up to the second half of 2014. The projects registered in the electronic system were 1024 during the years 2011-2014. The average completion of projects increased from 73% by the end of December 2013 to 77% by the end of the second half of 2014. A total of 102 long-term projects will be completed as part of the Government Action Plan (2015-2018). It also included some projects whose implementation was extended and would be completed as part of the Government Action Plan (2015-2018). Meanwhile, 25 delayed projects will be completed by mid-2014. The Cabinet referred the memo to the Infrastructure Ministerial Committee with directives to overcome existing difficulties and expedite the implementation of the delayed projects. It also demanded cooperation with concerned authorities to streamline procedures for the implementation of the projects. On measures to prevent Ebola Virus from entering the Kingdom, the Cabinet reviewed a report submitted by the Ministerial Committee, chaired by Deputy Premier Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, in this regard. The Cabinet ordered more precautionary measures in order to prevent the virus from entering the country, the Minister said. In another context, the cabinet discussed a report presented by the Minister of Labour on those eligible for subsidy and unemployment insurance, as well as data on training, employment and vacancies during the first quarter of 2014. The Report revealed a drop in the unemployment rate during the second quarter of 2014 to 3.7%, compared to 4% in the first quarter. 6085 citizens were employed in the second quarter of 2014, at the rate of 2028 jobs per month. Crafts jobs and the production and transportation sectors had the highest rates of employment. The figures reflect the Government’s tireless efforts to develop the labour market and provide better job opportunities for citizens. The Cabinet emphasised the importance of commitment of international organisations to precision in disclosing such figures. The cabinet approved a draft law to amend article 12 of law 74 for the year 2006 concerning the welfare, rehabilitation and employment of people with disabilities, based on a proposal submitted by the Representatives Council. The ministerial council referred the draft law to the Legislative Committee for further study. The Cabinet also reviewed a draft law concerning domestic workers, based on an amended proposal by the Representatives Council and the memorandum of the Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission.
