How did Bahrain provide an integrated social protection system for the neediest citizens? .. Written by Jamil bin Muhammad Ali Humaidan .. Minister of Labor and Social Development

04-08-2020

The Kingdom of Bahrain has taken deliberate, rapid steps to build a comprehensive social‑protection system that guarantees Bahraini citizens—especially the most vulnerable—a dignified life, beginning in 1972 with the introduction of social‑security assistance. Successive measures have added bonuses, allowances and both direct and indirect financial support, constantly updated to match economic developments. All such assistance embodies the spirit of social solidarity at the heart of Bahraini society and reflects the firm conviction of Bahrain’s wise leadership that every citizen deserves an adequate standard of living. This conviction has flourished during the comprehensive development process of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the great King of the country, may God protect and preserve him, with unstinting support from His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, may God protect them. Despite these achievements, questions occasionally arise: have researchers and social activists fully considered the interlinked humanitarian, social and economic dimensions of Bahrain’s protection system? Has media coverage been deep and sustained enough to embed awareness of these rights and benefits in citizens’ consciousness? Why, when the state has guaranteed appropriate assistance, does any citizen still feel compelled to seek charitable help for basic needs—whether to remedy the effects of a house fire or to cover other essential living costs? These questions recur whenever a request for such aid surfaces, prompting reflection on how best to ensure that every eligible person accesses the support already secured for them. The Kingdom’s ministries, mainstream media, social‑media channels and official websites carry a wealth of information on the benefits available to Bahraini citizens, yet many people remain uncertain about their full entitlements or how to claim them. The Ministry of Labour and Social Development, therefore, continues to expand outreach—through lectures at social‑development centres, joint events with civil‑society organisations and direct digital engagement—to ensure that every eligible person understands and accesses the comprehensive support guaranteed by the state. Below is an integrated overview of the principal forms of government assistance currently in place, all of which are disbursed in accordance with clearly defined criteria and are financed, updated and expanded in line with national economic developments: • Social security assistance goes to households with no income or an income insufficient to meet basic needs. More than 17,000 families and individuals—widows, divorcees, abandoned women, older persons, families of prisoners, persons unable to work, persons with disabilities, unmarried women and orphans—receive a monthly allowance that shields them from poverty. • Cost of living financial support empowers some 120,000 Bahraini families to cope with price fluctuations. Heads of household in both the public and private sectors receive 100 dinars if their monthly income is below 300 dinars, 70 dinars if it is below 700 dinars and 50 dinars if it is below 1,000 dinars. Families that already benefit from social security assistance are prioritised. • Living standard improvement allowance for retirees, disbursed by the Social Insurance Organisation, honours roughly 82,000 retirees and their dependants. Payments are 150 dinars for pensions below 700 dinars, 125 dinars for pensions between 700 and 1,500 dinars and 75 dinars for pensions above 1,500 dinars. • Housing allowance of 100 dinars per month is paid by the Ministry of Housing to about 46,000 Bahraini applicants who have waited at least five years for state housing, helping them meet rental costs until they receive a unit. • Cash compensation for removal of meat subsidies safeguards family purchasing power; more than 160,000 households receive payments calculated to reflect each member’s entitlement. • Disability allowance of 100 dinars a month supports over 12,000 registered people with disabilities, helping them and their families cover disability related expenses. • The Ramadan grant, issued under the direct instructions of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, doubles social security and disability payments during the holy month, easing seasonal financial pressures. • Electricity and water bill reductions for social security beneficiaries are applied automatically through coordination with the Electricity and Water Authority. • Unemployment benefits assist new job seekers with 200 dinars a month for university graduates and 150 dinars for non graduates, paid for up to nine months while they pursue employment. Workers made redundant receive compensation equal to 60 per cent of their previous salary, subject to ongoing compliance with job search requirements. • Free vocational to to job seekers—who meanwhile receive unemployment benefits—and to newly hired employees, guiding them toward the professional certifications demanded by today’s labour market. These programmes combine theory and hands‑on practice to build industry‑specific expertise, workplace skills and positive behaviours, enabling participants to reach higher levels of professionalism and productivity in their organisations. Training paths—whether basic, advanced vocational or on‑the‑job—equip individuals for a chosen occupation or facilitate a smooth transition from one role to another, ensuring a workforce that meets employers’ evolving needs. Beyond direct cash benefits and vocational‑training schemes, Bahrain delivers a broad safety net of 15 indirect support programmes that reach every citizen. These include free public schooling, comprehensive healthcare, subsidised electricity and water, staple-food price support, social-insurance top-ups, wage subsidies for Bahrainis hired under the National Employment Programme, housing, fuel and petroleum-product subsidies, and dedicated care services for senior citizens, among others. Reflecting its commitment to social protection, the Government raised annual spending on these indirect programmes from BHD 385 million in 2018 to BHD 435 million in 2019—an increase of about 7 per cent—ensuring that essential services remain accessible and that household living standards continue to improve. While this comprehensive package of social assistance helps citizens meet living costs, the Kingdom’s strategic objective is to shift people from reliance on protection to active production. To that end, multiple initiatives enable Bahrainis to launch income‑generating projects and contribute to national development. Foremost among these is the Khatwa (Step) programme for home‑based businesses, which motivates families and young people to create and expand micro‑enterprises by offering training, an enabling environment and the resources needed for success. The programme markets Bahraini handicrafts through Capital Mall for Bahraini handmade products, other retail venues and specialist exhibitions, and facilitates micro‑finance via Family Bank, elevating household living standards. In parallel, the Government supplies financing, incentives and start‑up exemptions that encourage youth entrepreneurship, and these ongoing initiatives have proved effective in curbing unemployment and ensuring the labour market continues to generate sustainable job opportunities. The Kingdom of Bahrain’s response to the economic repercussions of COVID‑19 has remained swift and inclusive. Acting on the unprecedented royal directive of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the great King of the country, may God protect and preserve him, the Government launched a BD 4.3 billion financial and economic rescue package that initially covered the full wages of more than 100,000 insured Bahrainis employed in the private sector for three months, April through June, and then extended wage support at 50 percent for July, August and September to maintain employment stability and stem lay‑offs. Complementary portfolios were assigned to assist taxi, public‑transport, bus and coach drivers and to pay the entire salaries of female staff in kindergartens and nurseries for three months, while all Tamkeen programmes were redirected to support affected enterprises, thereby reinforcing job security for national workers. To safeguard public health during the pandemic, the Government has shifted applications for every social‑service benefit to streamlined electronic platforms, eliminating the need for in‑person visits to social or employment centres and underscoring unwavering concern for citizens’ livelihoods, health and social welfare. Ultimately, every state‑approved programme and initiative exists for the citizen. It is therefore our shared duty to ensure that entitlements reach all eligible Bahrainis smoothly and efficiently. I urge civil‑society organisations to continue complementing government efforts by guiding individuals toward the support available to them. Together, we can empower every Bahraini to enjoy a secure, dignified life and to contribute productively to the Kingdom’s ongoing development.