BUSINESSES with 50 employees or more could be obliged to double the number of people with disabilities on their payroll.
The proposed amendment to the 2006 People with Disabilities Care, Rehabilitation and Employment Law by five Shura Council members is spearheaded by Sabeeka Al Fadhala.
It will be subject to a preliminary vote during the weekly Shura Council session on Sunday before being referred to the services committee for review.
Currently, such companies are obliged by law to hire a minimum of two per cent of people with disabilities.
However, the proposal seeks more employment opportunities for citizens with disabilities.
Social Development Minister Osama Al Asfoor told the Shura Council that at least 13,578 Bahrainis with disabilities receive between BD100 and BD200 a month, costing the government BD1.64 million.
“Two per cent as a minimum was introduced 17 years ago to get people with disabilities employed rather than being left jobless over unrealistic, irrational and improper assumptions that they cannot handle jobs as able-bodied people,” said Ms Al Fadhala.
“Nowadays, businesses hire Bahrainis with disabilities not because they are obliged to, but due to the simple fact that the country has taken a lengthy stride in ensuring the rights of such individuals,” she added.
“People with disabilities have also proven they are as capable in given tasks as able-bodied people.
“The 4pc is a legislative step up to help get more people with disabilities employed in certain businesses that unfortunately just wants to meet the minimum cap of 2pc.”
She said legislative intervention to generally improve the law and the situation for people with disabilities will continue as there are more ideas on the way.
“People with disabilities deserve, and are entitled to, more benefits. There are limitations within rules which we will be working to overcome legislatively.
“This doesn’t mean we are behind; on the contrary, we are leaders in the field of protecting the rights of such people, and for that the bar has to be raised to achieve more.”
Also under the proposed amendments, the Labour and Social Development Ministers will have to work alongside the Civil Service Commission president to determine employment priority in certain government jobs for people with disabilities.
Meanwhile, Shura Council members are set to vote on a recommendation by its woman and child committee to reject a proposed move to punish healthcare workers, teachers and caretakers who fail to report suspected cases of domestic violence to the authorities within 48 hours.
MPs last week rejected amendments to the 2015 Protection from Domestic Violence Law to ensure such professionals step forward and seek action as soon as they come across suspected victims of violence or abuse in homes.
Debate on the law was suspended in April this year. Parliament second deputy speaker Ahmed Qarata sparked a row by criticising the Bahrain Women’s Union for their written feedback on the definition of domestic violence.
The amendments seeking jail or fine, or both, if approved would be determined by a judge rather than mentioned in the law.
The Shura Council members are also set to vote on a new aviation agreement with South Korea, which MPs approved last Tuesday.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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