*** ----> Shura Council approves salaries legislation | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Shura Council approves salaries legislation

TDT | Manama

The Shura Council yesterday approved an urgent legislation to pay the salaries of Bahraini citizens working in the private sector for the next three months. This came in the Shura Council’s weekly session, during which the bill received plenty of support.

The move will see BD215million withdrawn from the unemployment fund to pay the Bahrainis’ salaries from April to June. It is a part of measures accompanying the BD4.3billion stimulus package to unify national efforts in combating the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The legislation follows constitutional procedures in line with the Social Insurance Law. A draft-law was approved last week by the House of Representatives and it will now be fast-tracked by the Cabinet to be ratified and issued by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

It is in line with the directives of His Majesty the King, HRH the Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, and HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier during these challenging times in light of the COVID-19 disease.

The economic stimulus package aims to maintain the continuity of national programmes, provide the necessary liquidity for the private sector to address the effects of the current situation, combat COVID-19, and maintain sustainable development.

The package also includes a waiver on electricity, water and municipality bills for both private homes and businesses of all in Bahrain for the next three months, and the deferred payment of bank loans for Bahrainis for six months, among other things.