RULES that would have obliged bosses to pay their workers’ wages promptly was unanimously rejected yesterday as it was found to be redundant.
In December, MPs had unanimously rejected the amendment proposed by former MPs to the 2012 Private Sector Employment Law.
His Majesty King Hamad issued a decree in 2018 making payments on time an obligation, while Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Humaidan issued a ministerial edict last year to force payments into bank accounts authorised by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB).
Shura human rights committee chairman said there are 600,000 expats, mostly low income, working in Bahrain who have no time to open bank accounts.
“Expats in Bahrain work long hours and even on Fridays so they don’t have time to open accounts, which also requires papers and their passports, which they willingly hand over to their sponsors for protection and to ensure they don’t get lost,” he said.
“Banks require personal attendance and time and it comes from work hours so how could that be managed – this needs addressing.
“Is the rule applicable on failing companies and if so what is the mechanism and how is the ministry making sure that the right amounts are made?”
Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain said Bahrain’s banks were operating 24 hours with the introduction of electronic services that are easily approachable.
“All workers get off days from work, this is their entitlement, so they can finish bank requirements within minutes if personal attendance is needed, otherwise all have access to electronic services.”
Services committee chairwoman Dr Jihad Al Fadhel said opening accounts was easy and doesn’t take time.
Shura legislative and legal affairs committee chairwoman Dalal Al Zayed said the CBB obligation to all banks to open accounts even for the lowly-paid has made the rule easier to implement.
Meanwhile, Shura Council secretary-general Osama Al Asfoor read out a statement on the 52nd anniversary of the BDF, which falls on Wednesday.
Another statement urging the Arab League members to come up with a unified vision for the Palestinian issue was also read by Mr Al Asfoor.
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