New media law planned

The Cabinet chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, yesterday discussed the draft of the Press and Media Law, reviewing its compatibility and consistency with Bahrain’s commitments under international law and subscribed treaties.

The Cabinet was briefed by the Deputy Prime Minister on the views and recommendations of the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs, after which it decided to refer the draft law for a later Cabinet session, after obtain the the Government Executive Committee view on the matter.

The Cabinet approved the Kingdom’s incorporation into the World Bank’s Human Capital Project, launched in 2017. Bahrain is ranked 47th globally, first in the region, of a total of 157 countries measured, in the World Bank’s Human Capital Index of 2018.

The Human Capital Project aims to expand the knowledge, skills, and health which people accumulate throughout their lives, enabling them to realise their potential as productive members of society. The topic was presented by the Deputy Prime Minister based on the recommendations of the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance.

The Cabinet reviewed the most important achievements of the “Khatwa Home Businesses” program as reflected in a memorandum submitted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Development. The document explains that the project succeeded in turning 43 families towards entrepreneurial activity and led to 683 families, from different age and social groups, obtaining productive licenses.

The total of sales obtained by these productive families amounted to BD 396,000 in 2019, up from BD 134,000 in 2011, thanks to an expansion of sales centres and marketing outlets that now include major markets in Bahrain. 

The Cabinet decided, based on recommendations submitted by the Ministry of Health, to refer to the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs a draft decision to amend the tables accompanying the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Law 15 of 2007, by adding new substances to the second and third groups.

Later, the Cabinet reviewed a report on Bahrain’s participation in UNESCO’s 40th General Conference in France submitted by His Excellency the Minister of Education; a report on Bahrain’s participation in the Arab Ministers of Communications and Information meeting in Saudi Arabia, submitted by the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications; and a report on Bahrain’s participation in the World Youth Forum in the Arab Republic of Egypt, submitted by the Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs.