MLSD Minister: : The government undertakes to pay 50% of the salaries of citizens in the private sector, according to the specified criteria

11-07-2020

His Excellency Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, Minister of Labour and Social Development, lauded the royal directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the great King of the country, may God protect and preserve him, to unify national efforts against the repercussions of the Coronavirus (COVID‑19) in a manner that safeguards the health and safety of citizens and residents while sustaining governmental programmes designed to advance sustainable‑development goals, maintain liquidity in local markets and support the sectors most affected by the pandemic. He further commended the decision of the Council of Ministers, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, and followed up by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, to disburse fifty per cent of the wages of insured Bahraini employees in the most affected private‑sector establishments for three months beginning July 2020, financed by the Unemployment Insurance Fund. Humaidan underscored the Government’s determination to place the Bahraini citizen at the centre of its development initiatives, recognising citizens as a genuine and dependable national asset, and highlighted the State’s steadfast commitment to social protection amid the varying impacts of the pandemic on productive sectors. Expressing appreciation for employers’ cooperation with Ministry directives, he clarified that the Social Insurance Organisation will cover up to half of the insured wage for eligible Bahrainis working in private‑sector companies and institutions impacted by COVID‑19; beneficiaries must have been insured as of the end of June 2020 or hired and insured through the National Employment Programme during the month preceding each disbursement. Humaidan added that the economic sectors most affected by the COVID‑19 pandemic comprise: the travel and aviation sector; the hospitality and restaurant sector; the personal services sector, including salons, gyms, games and entertainment venues; the industrial sector; the health sector; the transportation and communications sector; the rehabilitation and training sector, inclusive of kindergartens; the retail sector for non‑food products; the administrative services sector, covering public relations, media and event organisation; the real estate sector; engineering and technical offices and contracting; the local newspapers and magazines sector; along with any other demonstrably affected sectors, with the exception of the financial sector, telecommunications, scientific, technical and professional activities, and university education and schools. Regarding the eligibility requirements and criteria, Humaidan clarified that an establishment must fall within the most affected sectors and demonstrate that the COVID‑19 pandemic has adversely impacted its workforce and financial resources to the extent that operations were wholly or partially suspended, hindering its ability to meet wage obligations; the establishment must also undertake to retain its Bahraini employees throughout 2020 and to pay the remaining salary balance in full, without deductions, on the designated pay dates. He added that the Ministry will reassess the roster of enterprises that benefited from the first financial and economic package, identify those that qualify for the current tranche of assistance based on sectoral impact, and forward the approved list to the Social Insurance Organization so that support amounts can be transferred to the eligible establishments during the fourth week of each month.