06 : 23 PM – 25/03/2012  Manama, March 25 (BNA)—
 The economic, trade and labour situation in Bahrain came under focus today during the cabinet regular weekly meeting which was chaired at Gudaibiya Palace by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

The council reviewed various options to strike a balance between training the labour force and boosting Bahrainis’ presence in the labour market and backing the trade sector amid the current global economic challenges.

In this context, HRH the Prime Minister directed to extend freeze on fees levied by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA)till June 31, 2012 instead of March 31, 2012.

The freeze started on April 1, 2011,HRH the Premier also instructed to postpone raising fees on commercial registry from BD 30 to BD 50, which was due to be effective on April 1, 2012. The cabinet tasked the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs to coordinate with the Labour Ministry and LMRA to study the repercussions of the fees and the possibility to link their value to the size of the company so as to enhance the government’s support for small and medium firms.

HRH the Prime Minister lauded the valuable directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa which were included in his speech given on receiving the report of the National Commission in charge of following up on the implementation of Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) recommendations.
He stressed that these recommendations usher in a new era of national work and reform, voicing the government’s resolve to closely follow up on their execution by ministries.

HRH the Premier hailed the efforts exerted by the National Commission, under the chairmanship of Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh, in fulfilling the mission entrusted with it in a record time. He also commended the key role played by the government work team, led by Deputy Premier Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, in this regard.

HRH the Prime Minister praised the patriotic stances displayed by citizens on various occasions, describing them as an impetus to exert more efforts in serving the nation and people.

The cabinet underscored the importance of Bahrain Animal Production Show (Mara’ee 2012), which was inaugurated recently by HM the King, in protecting the kingdom’s livestock and supporting the government’s efforts in this regard.

The ministerial council hailed the intellectual, cultural, touristic and media importance of the “Manama as Capital of Arab Culture” function, praising good preparation for and organization of the event by the Culture Ministry.

To promote the kingdom’s status as a major host of regional and international championships, the cabinet gave the green light for a comprehensive programme to develop, rehabilitate and equip sporting establishments. It directed to take the necessary technical, legal and financial procedures in this regard.

As part of the government’s efforts to upgrade health services, especially in private establishments, and ensure they meet set up standards and conditions by the Health Ministry, the ministerial council tasked the Health Ministry to ascertain private hospitals which conduct surgeries are outfitted with the needed equipment.

The cabinet reviewed a memorandum by the Interior Minister highlighting the contingency plan put in place to deal with potential risks of the fire that broke out in the British MV Stolt Valor vessel in the Gulf international waters.

The council hailed the Interior Ministry’s clinching of the first places in the Arab Shooting Championship.

The cabinet discussed a draft resolution to step up control on the ministries and government bodies’ independent budgets, being part of the public money.

It also reviewed the Education Ministry’s progress in implementing BICI recommendations to boost values of citizenship, human rights, tolerance and co-existence.

The cabinet decided to set up a committee led by the Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wild Life and taking into its membership representatives from concerned parties which will be in charge of preparing a national report for sustainable development that will be placed before Rio+20 summit set to be held in Brazil from June 20 to 22, 2012.

The council approved the Works Ministry’s accession to the World Road Association (PIARC) and tasked to take the necessary measures for that.

It also approved three proposals by the Representatives Council to work out radical solutions to the problem of fake companies, support centres of the handicapped and issue an alternative document for lost real estate papers within a three-month period after the court’s verdict.