MLSD Minister participates in the meeting of the labor ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries via video conference

15-04-2020

His Excellency Jameel bin Mohammad Ali Humaidan, Minister of Labour and Social Development and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, participated today, Wednesday, in the extraordinary meeting of the Labour Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), via live videoconference technology. The meeting reviewed precautionary measures and procedures to curb the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID‑19) and to limit its impact on private‑sector establishments in the GCC countries. The GCC Labour Ministers emphasised the importance of developing a vision for national cadres in the private sector in the GCC countries, and discussing ways to ensure their protection and continuity in the labour market without being affected by the repercussions of this pandemic, which, God willing, will pass. This will be achieved by adopting a package of precautionary measures, and by providing support and assistance from governments and private‑sector establishments to these national cadres, considering them the true wealth and the fundamental pillar upon which the GCC countries rely to achieve sustainable development. The ministers also reviewed the measures taken by the GCC countries within the framework of implementing the necessary precautions in cooperation with other sectors to protect the national and expatriate workforce from the virus. The Gulf ministers praised the tireless efforts and proactive initiatives undertaken by the Kingdom of Bahrain in this regard, and the many practical steps it has taken to confront the repercussions of this virus on the labour market. In this context, His Excellency the Minister, Humaidan, reviewed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s efforts to combat this pandemic through numerous measures and initiatives to support citizens and the private sector. In accordance with the royal directives, a financial package worth 4.3 billion Bahraini dinars was launched to address the repercussions of the global spread of the Coronavirus (COVID‑19) at the local level, thus preserving the health and safety of citizens and residents, in parallel with the continuation of the state’s programmes and work to achieve sustainable development efforts for the benefit of citizens. This includes paying the wages of national workers in companies and institutions in the private sector for a period of three months starting from this April. He also touched on the precautionary measures and procedures taken by the Ministry of Labour and Social Development at workplaces and workers’ accommodation, in cooperation with private‑sector institutions, to ensure the health and safety of workers. This is achieved by implementing effective measures to prevent the spread of the virus among workers, including tightening control and regulatory procedures in their accommodation and living areas. He pointed to the Ministry’s proactive initiative to hold meetings with representatives of embassies and diplomatic missions of labour‑exporting countries in the Kingdom of Bahrain and inform them of the required preventive and precautionary measures to preserve the safety and health of all. His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, before the Ministers of Labour of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, stressed the importance of joint coordination among the Gulf countries to overcome this phase in a way that does not affect development projects in the member states and ensures the stability of the Gulf labour markets. He underscored the need to benefit from the successful experiences of our countries in confronting this pandemic, in addition to coordinating positions among the member states in international labour forums, especially by highlighting the efforts made by the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to preserve the health and safety of national and expatriate workers.