The Cabinet yesterday endorsed a 50 per cent reduction in Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) fees for three months for the issue and renewal of certain types of work permits.

The decision was taken at the regular weekly Cabinet session chaired by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and attended by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister.

The reprieve, recommended by the Executive Committee chaired by the Crown Prince, also apply to all LMRA monthly fees levied on these work permits for July, August and September.

Owners of businesses hardest hit by the pandemic will be exempted from paying these fees for three months.

The Deputy Premier, head of the Ministerial Committee, Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance, will issue an edict listing the most affected sectors eligible for the fee reduction, which took effect last Wednesday.

The Premier directed the Labour and Social Development Ministry to co-ordinate with relevant authorities and study the cases of Bahrainis who were laid off abroad and facilitate their return home.

He also directed to consider the cases of citizens who returned to Bahrain and found it difficult to resume their work abroad due to the pandemic.

l The Prime Minister lauded the values embedded in a keynote speech delivered by His Majesty King Hamad, the Supreme Commander, while chairing a meeting of the Supreme Defence Council.

The Premier expressed pride in the King’s appreciation of the government’s work, which, he said, will motivate it to double its efforts to achieve royal expectations, said a statement by Cabinet secretary general Dr Yasser Al Nasser, following the session which was held via video conference.

l The Premier congratulated Major General Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa on his appointment as Secretary General of the Supreme Defence Council. He lauded the major role played by Shaikh Nasser in the military and strategic security fields, commending his valuable efforts in serving the kingdom’s progress.

l The Cabinet welcomed the kingdom’s success in maintaining Tier 1 status in the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons report for the third straight year.

While reviewing a memorandum presented by the Foreign Affairs Minister on the kingdom’s efforts to improve the work environment and combat trafficking in persons, the session commended the efforts of competent authorities in this regard, including the Interior, Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Labour and Social Development and Foreign ministries, the LMRA and the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons.

l The Cabinet, based on the Premier’s directives, and a recommendation by the Civil Service Council, led by the Crown Prince, endorsed the modified organisational structure of the Prime Minister’s Court.

l The session also approved the restructuring of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities by transferring the affiliation of the Handicrafts Directorate from the Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) to it.

l It also approved the re-structuring of the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) by cancelling the Communication Directorate and changing the affiliation of some directorates.

l The Cabinet approved the annual report and audited financial statements of the Future Generations Reserve Fund for the fiscal year ending December 31, before being referred to Parliament.

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