Remote working’s effectiveness discussed

TDT | Manama

Foreign Affairs Ministry undersecretary and Equal Opportunities Committee head Dr. Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Daij Al Khalifa participated in an effectiveness of remote working focus group, which was organised by the Supreme Council for Women through video conference.

The focus group highlighted the best practices and the challenges of remote working, in addition to the effects of applying the system on institutional performance and job satisfaction, in an effort to support women empowerment in all areas.

Dr. Shaikha Rana, who is also an SCW member, stressed that the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has imposed new challenges on everyone, adding that Bahrain has become a role model in implementing precautionary measures to reduce its spread without disrupting production, as jobs and services have continued.

She hailed the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to enable mothers affiliated with ministries, government bodies and institutions to work from home. She also noted the decision of the Government Executive Committee, chaired by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, that encourages public institutions to work remotely whenever possible.

She said that remote working has come with many challenges that require innovative solutions, like providing sufficient logistics, securing means of digital communication that are fast and stable, and ensuring the security of operations and protecting confidential data and documents.

She pointed out the Foreign Ministry’s efforts to address these challenges in many ways, including setting standards and controls to regulate remote working and establishing a number of new programmes and systems. She said that remote working did not affect the Ministry’s ability to perform all its tasks and duties towards Bahraini citizens abroad, as it was able to successfully organise the safe return of 6,300 citizens who wished to return home.