In this regard, the cabinet underscored the milestone political, economic, social, cultural, defence and security strides of the GCC since its establishment, citing mainly the Customs union, the common market, the increase of the volume of trade exchange between member states, freedom of GCC citizens to travel, work and practise economic activities in any of the GCC countries, unified social insurance and retirement procedures, equal tax treatment, purchase of shares from GCC Stock Exchanges, the freedom to establish companies, the Power Grid, the Water Connection and the GCC railway project.
In another context, the Housing Minister presented the cabinet with a report on the conditions of those injured during the regretful bus crash which took place in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, prepared upon directives from HRH Premier.
The cabinet offered sincere condolences to the families of the victims, praying Allah Almighty to rest the souls of the deceased in eternal peace and grant the wounded speedy recovery.
It also cabinet directed the Health Ministry to provide the wounded with necessary care.
During the same session, the cabinet reviewed and referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs a memo submitted by the Interior Minister on the need to hold some parents accountable for violations of the provisions of the Child Law through legislative means, in light of vandals’ exploitation of children and minors in acts of sabotage, which poses a threat to their safety and lives.
The memo proposed alternative punishment to minors who commit crimes to replace prison ones such as educational and national programmes in order to rehabilitate them and ensure that they are re-integrated into society as loyal and law-abiding citizens.
On education, the cabinet also approved the fourth annual report of the National Authority for Qualifications and Quality Assurance of Education and Training, and was informed about the results of Bahraini students in Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS 2011).
Regarding the government’s efforts to preserve heritage areas and buildings, the cabinet requested the Culture and Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministries to coordinate in order to identify those buildings and classify them according to their archaeological and heritage importance, in cooperation with experts.
Concerning the additional funds requested by ministries and state departments for the fiscal year 2012, the cabinet reviewed the procedures taken by the Finance Ministry to deal with them.
It also discussed amending the executive bill of the Municipalities Law in order to improve the quality of citizen-oriented services and projects.
The cabinet also reviewed measures taken by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) to deal with illegal workers and approved LMRA’s plan to set up a centre to detain violators, in cooperation with the Interior Ministry.
On the health, the cabinet agreed to inaugurate a National System for Health Information which aims to take advantage of IT to develop health and therapeutic services, and discussed the Health Ministry’s proposals regarding amending the law regulating the use, promotion and sale of alternatives to breast milk.
The cabinet also endorsed a draft-law ratifying the Protocol amending the Air Services Agreement signed between Bahrain and the Netherlands on June 11, 1990, and decided to refer it to the Legislative branch.
The proposal submitted by the Representatives Council requiring manufacturers and importers of food to put labels for additives and components of the products was also approved.