Equality at work

The Cabinet yesterday chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the achievements made by Bahraini women. The session stressed the key contributions of Bahraini women to the Kingdom’s comprehensive development, led by HM the King.

HRH the Crown Prince emphasised the importance of further supporting the efforts of the Supreme Council for Women, chaired by its President and wife of HM the King, HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, in order to reinforce the advancement of Bahraini women in all fields.

In this regard, the Cabinet directed the Ministry of Finance and National Economy to co-ordinate with the Supreme Council for Women to implement measures and adopt necessary budgets to ensure continued women’s advancement and the provision of equal opportunities, in line with the memorandum submitted by the Minister of Finance and National Economy.

The Cabinet also approved the results of the 2017-2018 National Gender Balance Report. The report, recommended by the Government’s Executive Committee, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince, and prepared by the Supreme Council for Women, was presented by the Minister of Finance and National Economy.

The Cabinet directed the report be referred to the National Committee for Information and Population, and further directed for the establishment of a joint committee between the Supreme Council for Women, the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, and the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs to follow up on the implementation of the recommendations of the report, in co-operation with relevant authorities.

The report indicates an increase in the Kingdom’s gender balance index from 60 per cent in 2016 to 64pc for the average period of 2017-2018. The report further indicated an increase in the gender balance index within various fields from 64pc in 2016 to 68pc for the average period of 2017-2018, and an increase in the institutional performance indicators from 56pc in 2016 to 59pc for the average period of 2017-2018. Among other things, the Cabinet reviewed a Draft Law amending provisions of Decree Law no.

(48) of the year 2012, regarding the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Cabinet reviewed the recommendations by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs, before deciding to postpone the memorandum to its next session for further review.

It approved a proposal submitted by the Supreme Council of Health to establish four committees. The four resolutions detailed in the proposal outline the establishment of the Higher Committee for Treatment Abroad, the National Committee for the Unified Procurement of Medicines and Medical Supplies, the Health Quality and Clinical Standards Committee, and the Health Strategic Training and Planning Committee.

The Cabinet directed the National Space Science Agency (NSSA), in collaboration and co-ordination with relevant authorities, to prepare a draft of the Kingdom’s National Space Law, in line with a memorandum submitted by the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications.