Expat street vendors could face legal action

TDT | Manama

Legal action could be taken against expatriate street vendors who violate the law, after the Cabinet approved yesterday a proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives to address the issue of such individuals in public places, markets, roads and houses of worship.

The Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry was requested to take the necessary procedures, in coordination with the competent authorities. The Cabinet ’s regular weekly session yesterday was 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.

During the session, the Cabinet also approved the government’s reply on a proposal on the citizens’ consumption of electricity in their primary residences. The Cabinet further endorsed a proposal submitted by the Representatives Council on developing a communication mechanism for deafmute people which would allow them to participate in talk shows presented by Bahrain TV.

This would allow them to highlight their role in society, and shed light on their issues and needs. Modified organisational structure of Premier’s Court endorsed; BACA to be restructured. Also yesterday, the Cabinet, based on HRH the Premier’s directives, and a recommendation by the Civil Service Council, led by HRH the Crown Prince, endorsed the modified organisational structure of HRH the Prime Minister’s Court.

The session also approved the restructuring of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities by transferring the affiliation of the Handicrafts Directorate from the Tourism and Exhibitions Authority to it. It also approved the re-structuring of the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) by canceling the Communication Directorate and changing the affiliation of some directorates.

Youth Ministry-affiliated clubs’ model regulation to be emended. The Cabinet approved an edict on amending the provisions of the Model Regulations of the statute of clubs, subject to the supervision of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs.

The amendment enables the Ministry to recommend those who apply for the membership of clubs’ administrations, set a system for membership renewal in accordance with terms and conditions, allow the invitation and attend the general assembly meeting by any approved electronic means, establish an electronic archive, and obligate the existence of contracts for all who receive payments from clubs.

Final anti-dumping duties to be imposed on cement imports from Iran for 5 years The Cabinet agreed to impose a final anti-dumping fee of 67.5 per cent of the value (CIF) against the imports of GCC countries from all kinds of aqueous cement products including solid cement called “clinker”, whether it is coloured of origin or exported from Iran and included under the customs clause (2523) of the customs tariff for GCC states for a period of five years, starting from June 20, 2020.

The Cabinet instructed the Customs Affairs to implement the decision, which is based on the resolution of the GCC Ministerial Committee for Industrial Cooperation. Meanwhile, HRH the Prime Minister lauded the values embedded in the keynote speech delivered by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Supreme Commander, while chairing the meeting of the Supreme Defence Council.

HRH the Premier also congratulated Major-General His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa on his appointment, as per an order issued by His Majesty the King Hamad, as Supreme Defence Council secretary-general.

The Cabinet welcomed the Kingdom’s success in maintaining Tier One status in the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report for the third straight year, noting that Bahrain’s top ranking in the MENA region and the achievement reflect the government’s success in combatting such dangerous crimes that conflict the global conscience.

While reviewing a memorandum presented by the Foreign Affairs Minister on the Kingdom’s efforts to improve the work environment and combat trafficking in persons, the session commended the efforts exerted by the competent authorities in this regard, including the Interior Ministry; the Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry; the Labour and Social Development Ministry; the Foreign Affairs Ministry; the Labour Market Regulatory Authority; and the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons.