Panel to vote on withdrawal from Unemployment Fund

A PARLIAMENTARY committee will today decide on a recommendation regarding an urgent legislation to withdraw money from the Unemployment Fund to pay for the wages of Bahrainis in the private sector for the next three months.

The committee held a video conference yesterday but did not vote as members asked for more information on the legislation, which was received by Parliament on Thursday night.

Parliament’s services committee chairman Mamdooh Al Saleh told the GDN that the legislation will be scheduled for urgent debate at the chamber’s weekly session tomorrow.

The legislation aims to support 100,000 Bahrainis working in the private sector at a cost of BD215 million.

Both Parliament and the Shura Council will have two weeks each to review and vote on the legislation or it will be considered ratified by His Majesty King Hamad.

It is part of a financial and economic stimulus package worth BD4.3 billion approved last Monday by the Cabinet to offset the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The eight financial initiatives under the package include a waiver on electricity and water bills for all accounts – including individuals and commercial – for three months and a delay of bank loan instalments for six months for Bahrainis.

The other initiatives include doubling the Liquidity Fund to BD200 million and exempting tourism facilities from tourism fees for three months, among others.

Source: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/788268/Panel-to-vote-on-withdrawal-from-Unemployment-Fund