Bahrain King amends law on social security assistance

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Reported by Mahir Haneef

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has ratified and promulgated Law (21) of 2023, amending Law (18) of 2006 with respect to Social Security, following its approval by the Shura and Representatives and Councils.

The main change in the law from 2006 is that the Cabinet has been given the power to make additions to the categories of citizens who are eligible for receiving social assistance. A new paragraph has been added to Article III, which lists the categories of persons eligible.

It states, “The Cabinet may add new categories based on the minister’s proposal.” The 2006 law specifies, under Article Three, that social assistance is for Bahraini families and individuals residing in the Kingdom of Bahrain who fall under the nine categories specified in the law.

Included in the nine categories are widows, divorced women, abandoned women, prisoner’s family, unmarried girls, orphans, people with disabilities and those unable to work, the elderly, and children. In April this year, five MPs had submitted a bill before the Council of Representatives that proposed that every Bahraini family whose breadwinner earns below the minimum required for subsistence of a family should be given assistance to meet the minimum standard.

Similarly, an adult should also be financially supported to meet the minimum living standards if his income is below the minimum threshold, it was suggested. In addition to the change in the Cabinet’s power, slight changes have been made in two clauses (clauses 1 and 2) of Article I of the 2006 law, which contains definitions.

Clause 1, which previously read as “Ministry of Social Development” has been changed to “The ministry responsible for social development”. Clause 2, which was earlier worded as “Minister of Social Development”, should now be read as “The minister responsible for social development.”