Bahrain plans allowance for married women
Manama, October 24, 2012
About 15,000 married women working in Bahrain's government sector are set to benefit from a new social allowance as part of attempts to improve equality.
The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) is introducing the scheme, which has the backing of the Supreme Council for Women, at a cost of BD4.8 million a year.
It will mean bonuses of between BD30 and BD150 per month per employee, depending on their job title.
Single women working in the government will also get between BD20 and BD100 a month.
The scheme is expected to come into effect by the end of the year and will put women on a par with allowances received by married men, said CSB head Ahmed bin Zayed Al Zayed.
"We have 15,000 married women employed in the government sector who are currently applicable for the social allowance based on the first category status," he said.
"This represents 75 per cent of the total figure of married women. By introducing the allowance for second category beneficiaries, the scheme will result in a total estimated cost of BD4.8m.
"This includes the government's share through pension subscription and the unemployment allowance."
Al Zayed said officials were already finalising the legal requirements to roll out the second category allowance for married women, who account for 50pc of government sector workers.
"The scheme is being launched under the directives of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, as a means to introduce more positive incentives to promote high level of productivity and performance in the government workforce and ensure equality between both genders," he said.
"The scheme is in line with the council's strategy to activate a National Model for Mainstreaming Women's Needs in Development.
"The initiative will be embedded within the CSB's executive programme for the next four years." - TradeArabia News Service
