Bahraini Government Calls for Review of Bill Aiming to Boost Scientific Research and Incentivise Government Employees

TDT | Bahrain

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

The Bahraini government has urged the Council of Representatives to reconsider a draft law designed to encourage scientific research, recognise the contributions of national workforce in the public sector, and enhance government performance. The proposed legislation aims to incentivise government employees with higher qualifications, improve the quality of public service, and provide opportunities for ambitious talents. It also seeks to replace government-funded scholarships with a new system of academic qualification bonuses.

The draft law, apart from its preamble, consists of two articles. The first article proposes adding a new clause, numbered (15) bis, to the Civil Service Law issued by Decree Law No. (48) of 2010. This clause would entitle every Bahraini employee holding a recognized academic qualification from an accredited university to receive a bonus known as "Academic Qualification Bonus." The bonus amounts would be as follows: 20 Bahraini Dinars for a higher diploma, 40 Bahraini dinars for a master's degree, and 60 Bahraini Dinars for a doctorate. This bonus cannot be combined with any other existing academic qualification bonus, and it would not apply to positions where a specific academic qualification is a prerequisite for employment or promotion. The second article of the draft law is purely procedural.

The government has highlighted that the draft law contradicts the established legislative policy governing the enactment of laws and regulations related to the civil service. It emphasises that lawmakers must adhere to this policy, ensuring that when regulating a specific matter, they define its general framework while leaving the details to executive regulations and ministerial decisions. This approach allows for flexibility and ease of amendment in response to evolving circumstances that may necessitate swift legislative intervention. Conversely, laws require more time-consuming procedures for amendments, as mandated by constitutional provisions, the government stated.

"The Bahraini legislator has consistently adhered to this principle in the Civil Service Law issued by Decree Law No. (48) of 2010, particularly regarding salaries and benefits. Article (15) of this law establishes a general framework for determining salaries, benefits, and their eligibility criteria.

"It stipulates that +salaries, benefits, and their eligibility criteria shall be determined by a decision of the Prime Minister based on a proposal from the Cabinet. In accordance with this article, the Prime Minister's decision No. (77) of 2013 was issued to establish the regulations for determining salaries, benefits, and their eligibility criteria for employees subject to the Civil Service Law and its amendments," the government pointed out.

It's worth noting that the proposal was submitted by
a group of lawmakers. It includes the mandatory reinstatement of educational allowances for employees with advanced degrees, varying in amount based on the academic qualification and according to specific regulations.

The proposed law introduces a new provision stipulating that every Bahraini employee who has obtained an academic qualification from a recognised university, in accordance with the law, is entitled to an allowance called the "Educational Qualification Allowance."

The amount of the allowance would be 20 Bahraini dinars for holders of a higher diploma, 40 Bahraini dinars for master's degree holders, and 60 Bahraini dinars for individuals with a doctoral degree.

The aim of the proposal, as suggested by the lawmakers who drafted it, is to encourage scientific research, support national talents among government sector employees, and appreciate their efforts through incentive measures that enhance and develop their work, as well as attract ambitious competencies.