An urgent proposal for Tamkeen to continue financially supporting businesses closed, or badly hit, due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic was approved unanimously yesterday.
The proposal focuses on the hardship faced by recreational facilities such as child play centres, cinemas and massage parlours which remain shut, and struggling businesses, mainly travel agencies.
The Tamkeen Business Continuity Programme was introduced in April last year to provide financial assistance to sectors affected by Covid-19.
Under the same proposal, MPs also urged the government to submit a request to withdraw money from the Unemployment Fund to continue supporting wages of Bahrainis in affected sectors.
The fund provided 100 per cent wage support to all sectors from April to June last year, then 50pc to affected sectors from July to December.
The proposal has been submitted by the Bahrain Bloc and will be reviewed by the Cabinet.
“Should support to such businesses stop then numerous Bahrainis would be jobless, while owners already paying expenses for offering nothing would face legal action for bounced cheques and debt,” said bloc member Ammar Qambar.
Bloc president Ahmed Al Salloom said support needed to be urgent as every lapsed minute meant huge losses.
“We don’t want workers, mainly Bahrainis, to be sacked because businesses are going in losses,” he said.
Ahmed Al Demistani said the tourism sector was facing a loss of 95pc.
“The tourism and events sectors employ mostly Bahrainis and at the moment they can’t pay wages, rent or fees,” he said.
“Many have had their cases referred to the court because they have not made a single payment as they can’t afford even paying a single fils.”
MPs also approved an urgent proposal to open a temporary health centre in Salman Town until a proper one is built.
Another urgent proposal approved seeks to allocate government plots for housing projects in the Northern Governorate constituency seven.
The following five proposals were also approved to be referred to the Cabinet:
Promoting all civil servants to higher ranks and posts as part of normal career progression;
Exempting charity societies from fees for government services;
Opening the Sitra Health Centre for 24 hours;
Exempting Bahrainis living in residential areas from parking meter toll;
Continuing free electricity and water for Bahraini households until the end of the Covid-19 pandemic.
An urgent proposal to increase the cap of eligibility, from BD500 to BD1,200, for the three per cent annual pension increase has been referred to the services committee for further review.
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