Remove all obstacles delaying projects: PM

Manama : His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa yesterday gave directives to remove all obstacles that delay the implementation of government-funded projects.

The directive was given while chairing the regular weekly Cabinet meeting at the Gudaibiya Palace yesterday.

Commenting on a report presented by Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Urbanisation and Infrastructure, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, HRH Premier commended the role played by the panel’s chairman and members for coordination with government departments regarding the strategic projects being implemented under the Government Action Plan.

The report highlighted the resolutions taken by the Ministerial Committee for Urbanisation and Infrastructure during their meetings held between January 2016 and June 2017 to realise the goals set by HRH Premier’s edict on establishing and determining its terms of reference. 

The cabinet also approved a plan to re-structure the Bahrain Polytechnic. According to a memorandum presented by the Deputy Premier and Deputy Chairman of the Civil Service Council, the new-look organisational structure consists of an Executive Director, as well as a Deputy Executive Director for Academic Affairs, and another for Resources and Information.

The directorates will report to each deputy executive director, and a Quality and Metrology Directorate will report directly to the Executive Director.

HRH the Prime Minister, while reviewing citizen-oriented services, gave directives to the Housing Ministry to meet the housing needs of “Al Qurayyah” villagers through a housing project, and within the Northern City.  

HRH Premier also instructed the ministry to meet the housing needs of the Askar villagers as soon as possible.

Unemployment

Tackling the unemployment issues, HRH Prime Minister gave instructions to continue launching incentives and programmes that encourage employers to recruit Bahrainis and make them the best option in the employment process, directing to develop more programmes for Bahraini job-seekers to qualify them for the labour market.

Commenting on a memorandum submitted by the Labour and Social Development Minister on the labour market’s indicators during the first half of this year, HRH Premier lauded the efforts exerted by the ministry in coordination with the relevant authorities to support and encourage qualitative and value added training and employment opportunities for Bahrainis in  the private sector.

The minister’s memorandum showed stability in the unemployment rate at 4.2 per cent. 

It also revealed that the workforce peaked in size at nearly 768,000 in the first half of 2017, with the private sector employing 65 per cent of the national workforce. 

The indicators also show that about 3,500 nationals benefited from training programmes, and that the average salaries of Bahrainis rose by 3.6 per cent in the private sector, reaching BD407. 

It also showed that the average salaries reached BD691 in the public sector. 

Foreign investments

The session discussed a proposal to support foreign investments in the Kingdom and stimulate world companies to invest in some commercial activities according to a set of criteria and requirements. 

HRH Premier tasked the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism to study the proposal with the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) in rendition of its role, being the competent side in this matter.

Draft laws reviewed

The session reviewed four draft-laws prepared based on proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives, including a draft-law on amending Article 43 of Law on Regulating the Retirement Pensions and Benefits for the Officers and Servicemen of Bahrain Defence Force and Public Security promulgated by Decree-Law 11/1976, a bill on amending Article 144 of the Social Insurance Law, promulgated by Decree-Law 24/1976, a draft-law on amending Article 77 of Law 13/1975 on Pensions, Retirement Indemnities for Government Officials and Employees, and a draft-law on amending Article 31 of Law 15/2007 on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.