Control of markets to be tightened

TDT | Manama

A proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives on tightening control over markets, especially regarding preventive and sanitary tools, was endorsed yesterday during the weekly Cabinet session.

The Parliamentary proposal was one of several tackled yesterday during the Cabinet session, chaired by His Royal Highness the Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and attended by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier.

A proposal supporting micro, small and medium-sized private sector enterprises through the government’s BD4.3billion stimulus package to confront the coronavirus (COVID-19) was endorsed, with the Cabinet stating it has been achieved through the package’s various initiatives, in particular the one launched by Labour Fund “Tamkeen” to ensure the continuity of those enterprises.

The session approved a proposal submitted on exempting the tenants of state-owned commercial outlets from paying their rent for three months due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The proposal has already been achieved on the ground following HRH the Premier’s directives to stop collecting rents from the tenants of municipal and Supreme Council for Environment property, in addition to the Cabinet’s resolution to stop collecting rent from tenants of Eskan Bank-owned shops.

The session approved the draft reply of the government on a proposal regarding the monthly installment to be paid by the beneficiaries of housing services delivered by the Ministry of Housing; as well as a proposal on building a boys’ school in Budaiya.

The session was briefed by the Foreign Affairs Minister on the outcomes of the conference that was held marking 75 years since the issuance of the UN Charter, as well as on those of the extraordinary ministerial meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The session was also informed about the results of the meeting of the Arab Health Ministers’ Council.