Manama: Mahmood Rafique, Editor: Bahrain’s Cabinet in its weekly meeting on Monday underscored the importance for all to follow all precautionary measures responsibly, including by practicing social distancing and wearing face masks. The Cabinet also praised the level of awareness displayed by the Kingdom’s community and instructed the relevant authorities to ensure health and precautionary measures under their competencies are being followed.
This came as His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting, held remotely.
The Cabinet extended its congratulations to the Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, on the success of his medical tests and wished HRH further health and wellness as he continues to steadfastly advance national development efforts under the leadership of HM the King.
The Cabinet praised HRH the Crown Prince’s role leading national efforts aimed at combatting the Coronavirus (COVID-19), and the Kingdom’s continued success in mitigating the spread of the virus whilst preserving the wellbeing of citizens and residents.
The Cabinet welcomed the results of the United Nations e-government report 2020, which has ranked the Kingdom second amongst Arab and regional countries and has classified the Kingdom in the category of countries with a “very high indicator” in the general development of e-government.
The Cabinet reviewed and approved a memorandum submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance regarding the sustainability of the Kingdom’s pension funds.
The submitted memorandum consists of recommendations made by the Board of Directors of the Social Insurance Organization (SIO) regarding 10 reforms, including 4 immediate reforms.
The Cabinet approved memorandum also contains a recommendation to issue a decree-law urgently reforming pension funds and regulations, by merging the civil and private sector pension funds. The recommendation further links the annual increase of the pension to the existence of a surplus in the funds, preventing the inclusion of pension and salary, and preventing the amalgamation of pensions from any of the private and public pension funds that would extend the life of the pension funds and continue to fulfil their obligations towards 95,000 citizens.
The Cabinet directed the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance to coordinate with the Board of Directors of the SIO to review other immediate reforms in accordance with these recommendations, to ensure it contributes to the sustainability of pension and insurance funds and their ability to fulfil their obligations and discuss this with the Legislative Authority to issue the necessary legislation as a matter of urgency.
The Cabinet approved a memorandum submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance pathing the way for the issuance of a decree-law regarding the Future Generations Reserve Fund.
The memorandum recommended temporarily suspending the deductions of oil revenues allocated to the Future Generations Reserve Fund until the end of the fiscal year 2020, and the withdrawal of USD 450 million for one time only from the Fund, and to approve the issuance of a decree-law disposing part of the fund. The measures are intended to support the state’s general budget during the remainder of the fiscal year 2020.
The Cabinet approved a Draft Law on regulations that define the final beneficiary in accordance with best practices and standards related to improving international tax compliance and combating money laundering and terrorist financing. The decision applies to all registered persons subject to the Commercial Registry Law.
In line with the directives of HRH the Prime Minister for Ministers to visit villages in the Western area of the Kingdom, the Cabinet reviewed the results of the visit made by HE the Minister of Electricity and Water Affairs to these villages, which included details on the implementation of various electricity and water plans to be implemented by the Ministry.
The Cabinet approved a proposal to further develop the Riffa Public Library by the Ministry of Education by providing a collection of books on various fields and electronic services.
The Cabinet approved a proposal to include the concepts of the roles of Members of Parliament and their legislative role within the Council of Representatives as part of the citizenship curriculum.
The Cabinet approved a Government response to a proposal regarding the establishment of a sports museum.
In the item of Ministerial reports, the Cabinet reviewed the outcomes of the Ministerial Meeting of the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum submitted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Labour and Social Development’s participation in the regional summit of the International Labour Organization, and the meeting of the Council of Ministers of Youth and Sports submitted by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports.
