Bahrain's Cabinet has referred to the legislative authority an urgent request to amend Article 8 of Decree-Law No 78 for the year 2006 regarding insurance against unemployment, to enable the government to pay the wages of Bahrainis working in the private sector for a period of three months starting from April 2020.

 

The Cabinet meeting today, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, welcomed the widespread public support to combat the Coronavirus (COVID-19), which remains a testament to the Bahraini spirit. The Cabinet added that these efforts include the demonstration of a high-level of awareness and social responsibility, as well as the high volume of volunteering applications received, said a Bahrain News Agency report.

 

 

Following the meeting, the Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr Yasser bin Issa Al-Nasser, said the Cabinet commended HM King Hamad’s directive to unite Bahrain’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 to safeguard the well-being of citizens and residents, through measures taken by the government, led by HRH the Prime Minister, and HRH the Crown Prince, to introduce a BD4.3 billion economic stimulus package to support citizens and the private sector amidst the challenges presented by the global spread of COVID-19.

 

The Cabinet also decided to take the necessary measures to enable the government to pay the electricity and water bills of all individuals and companies for a period of three months starting from April 2020.

 

It further decided to exempt individuals and businesses from paying the municipality fees included in the electricity and water bills for the months of April, May and June; exempt industrial and commercial enterprises from government industrial land rent fees for the months (April-June) and exempt tourist facilities from tourist fees for the three months.