Manama: Mahmood Rafique, Editor: The Cabinet on Monday has approved number of initiatives aimed at mitigating the impacts of the novel coronavirus, in line with the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to unify the national efforts to confront the impacts of pandemic at the local level, and to protect the health and safety of the citizens and residents, along with the continuity of the state’s programmes to enhance the sustainable development march.
The initiatives are also in line with the decisions of the government, led by HRH the Prime Minister, and the national efforts, led by HRH Crown Prince, to combat the COVID-19 in the Kingdom.
In this regard, the government decided, based on its consultations with the Legislative Branch and the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and based on their visions, to pay 50% of the salaries of insured Bahrainis in the most affected private sector institutions for three months, starting from July, in accordance with the terms and conditions to be set by the Labour and Social Development Ministry, in coordination with the relevant authorities.
The government also decided to pay the electricity and water bills of all Bahraini subscribers for their first houses for three months, beginning from July, provided that they do not exceed the bills of the same period last year.
The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) will also support the most affected economic sectors, in accordance with the terms and conditions that will be approved by its Board of Directors.
The session endorsed the Kingdom’s accession to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention; CMS) issued by the United Nations Environment Programme.
The move is within the framework of the government’s keenness to enhance the conservation of migratory species and their habitats.
