BAHRAIN’S legislators are seeking urgent measures to tackle inflation and have called for an open debate to discuss rising prices during the Parliament session on Tuesday.
MP Mohammed Al Marafi, who is spearheading the request, claimed that the increase in prices of basic commodities was posing an ‘unprecedented burden’ on citizens.
“We need to identify, determine and reveal the reasons for the price hike, which the kingdom has been witnessing in the past months,” said Mr Al Marafi in a statement yesterday.
“The current inflation is creating a massive financial burden on citizens, and as MPs we will not rest until we achieve realistic results, or know the official mechanisms in place to curb the spike in prices.
“We will strive to develop deterrent legislation and laws to maintain the prices – especially with regards to essential commodities.”
Food prices have soared globally as the war in Ukraine continues to drive the cost of staples to new highs.
The GDN earlier reported that Bahrain’s Awal Dairy Company and Saudi’s Almarai had hiked the prices of its dairy products. The companies said that global market disruptions – especially the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, one of the world’s major grain producers – had resulted in a spike in the cost of raw materials. The prices of eggs have also increased with the General Poultry Company blaming it on surging feed and packaging costs.
“The increase in prices has become a source of concern for many Bahraini families, especially those with a limited income whose purchasing power has been eroded to a large extent in light of global inflation,” added Mr Al Marafi.
“Bahrainis have the right to worry because the issue is related to food security of their families and therefore Parliament must play its follow-up role by activating its oversight tools.
“We need to look into reasons for the rise in prices. We also have to study the measures put in place by the government to monitor and ensure no global or regional circumstances are exploited to unjustifiably raise food prices.”
Mr Al Marafi said the strengths, weaknesses and imbalances in the procedures and legislation in force will also be reviewed.
Meanwhile, several pensioners have taken to social media to voice their concerns over January 2023 pensions deposited into their accounts yesterday, allegedly without the annual three per cent increase.
The GDN reported last week that MPs have stressed the need for the government to live up to its commitments in the Government Action Plan by assigning budgets for wage increases, pensioners’ pay rises and social welfare.
The annual 3pc increase had been suspended for more than two years following a shortage of funds. However, a 6pc retroactive pension increase of retirees from January 2021 to April 2022 has been deposited into the accounts of pensioners.
“The annual increase is a point agreed upon between Parliament and the government when discussing provisions to the Government Action Plan,” MP Zainab Abdulameer told the GDN yesterday.
“Funds will be allocated in the budget to accommodate the annual increase for pensioners,” she added.
“We are working on creating a mechanism that ensures that largest segment of retirees are included in this annual increase. We will not give up on this demand, because we had approved the Government Action Plan with these agreements in place.”
reem@gdnmedia.bh
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