The Ministry of Labor and Social Development provides a service for requests for licenses to collect funds and donations electronically for NGOs

20-04-2021

On the occasion of the approaching holy month of Ramadan, Mrs Najwa Abdul Latif Janahi, Director of Non-Government Organizations' Support, called on civil society organisations registered with the Ministry to apply for a licence to collect funds, by visiting the Ministry’s website www.mlsd.gov.bh and filling out the form designated for this purpose, and returning it to the email address created on the Ministry’s official website, so that the Directorate can decide on the requests submitted to collect funds with the necessary speed, with the necessity for civil society organisations to adhere to the established procedures to obtain a licence to collect funds, in accordance with the provisions of Decree-Law No. (21) of 2013 regulating the collection of money for public purposes. Janahi confirmed that the Ministry of Labour and Social Development has taken numerous measures to ensure that NGOs obtain licences to collect funds electronically, pointing to ongoing efforts to facilitate the procedures for granting licences and regulating the collection of funds and donations for civil society organisations. These efforts include facilitating the procedures for opening bank accounts for charitable organisations in accordance with each organisation’s operating conditions, programmes, and activities. It is also worth noting that licences have been introduced for several charitable organisations to collect funds through electronic payments. In this regard, the Director of the Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) Support Directorate emphasised the need for civil society organisations to adhere to and comply with the laws, regulations, and procedures in force in the field of combating money laundering and terrorism, so that these NGOs can provide their humanitarian and charitable services, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan. This should be done without compromising the Ministry of Labour and Social Development's supervisory and oversight role over the movement of funds from these NGOs within the framework of the applicable laws and regulations.