The government has been urged to create a national committee to periodically review the minimum basic living requirements for Bahraini families.
The proposal comes after calls for a wide‑ranging overhaul of social welfare were scaled back, with legislators instead opting for a targeted amendment to the existing 2006 Social Security Law.
The proposed Article 6 (bis) now seeks to establish a panel chaired by the Social Development Minister, with representatives from ministries, relevant authorities and the private sector. It will define the minimum basic living requirements for Bahrainis and review them at least every three years. It will also take into account economic changes and living standards and submit findings that can guide social support policies.
The committee will be formed by a decision of the Prime Minister and may seek expert input.
The original draft contained 19 articles and proposed sweeping changes to the law – new beneficiary categories, a new Social Security Fund, new application mechanisms, exemptions from government fees and a formula for ‘supplementary assistance’ linked to a national poverty line.
However, after several meetings and extensive objections from government entities, almost the entire draft – except one proposal – was discarded. Government warned that these measures would overlap with existing unemployment benefits, violate legal frameworks and increase the budget deficit.
Mr Al Saleh
Services committee chairman MP Mamdooh Al Saleh said the final version preserves the core idea without disrupting the state’s financial and legal framework.
“The intention was never to create confusion or duplicate systems,” he said.
“What we kept is the most important element – establishing a formal, national mechanism to scientifically determine the minimum living requirements for citizens and to review them periodically in light of economic realities.”
Mr Al Saleh said the panel would create an evidence-based foundation for future social assistance decisions without altering existing entitlements.
“This gives the government and Parliament accurate data when discussing support programmes, instead of relying on estimates,” he said. “It strengthens social policy without placing immediate burdens on the budget.”
Social Development Minister Osama Al Alawi revealed that as of May 2025, there were 17,752 social security beneficiaries across categories including widows, divorced women, elderly citizens, people with disabilities and families without breadwinners.
He cautioned that linking assistance to a formally calculated ‘minimum living threshold’ every three years would require extensive studies, co-ordination between entities and careful financial planning.
“The financial and regulatory implications require comprehensive government consensus,” he noted in the response to MPs.
Tuesday’s debate is expected to focus whether Bahrain should formally adopt a scientific benchmark for what constitutes a ‘decent minimum living standard’ and use it to guide future social protection policies.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))