BAHRAINI housewives aged 40 and above could be eligible for social welfare ... if MPs have their way.
A proposed amendment to the 2006 Social Welfare Law was presented yesterday by five MPs led by Jalal Kadhem to Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam for review.
The MPs believe housewives ‘with no fixed source of income or money to make a living’ should also benefit from the government’s welfare scheme.
Those currently covered include families, widows, divorcees, abandoned women, the elderly, relatives of prisoners, people with disabilities, those incapable of work, unmarried girls, young boys and orphans.
If approved, the proposal would lead to a new category added to the list of beneficiaries.
The payments are made by the Social Development Ministry according to the BD336 line of basic life needs, for families of six members and above introduced in 2013.
The proposal comes as the country marks Bahraini Women’s Day today.
“Bahraini Women’s Day should commemorate remarkable achievements of women while also improving the lives of the needy,” said Mr Kadhem.
“We have brought to attention the livelihood of housewives, who unfortunately do not benefit from any government support because they don’t fall within any category or fit the conventional mould of those eligible to receive aid.
“We have to take into account the hardships those women go through as their husbands are often burdened with financial commitments and obligations. Many housewives do not get any allowance despite spending time to take care of their children and family.”
He added housewives should be honoured for their duties.
“Currently housewives are making huge sacrifices to society without being recognised or honoured for their contributions,” said Mr Kadhem.
“This is why we believe housewives aged 40 and above with no fixed source of income or enough money should be presented with social welfare through the addition of a new category.”
Social Development Minister Osama Al Asfoor had earlier asserted that a new ‘line of basic life needs’ was under study to replace the existing BD336.
He told MPs earlier this year that 17,430 Bahrainis were living below the current line.
Mr Al Asfoor explained that those receiving aid were also automatically included in general social welfare, like the anti-inflation and meat allowances.
He added that people with disabilities or their families also received an additional BD100 monthly.
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