A SLEW of recent decisions by Bahrain’s government will strengthen gender equality at workplace and step up women’s empowerment, it was revealed yesterday.
Supreme Council for Women secretary general Hala Al Ansari cited recent directives by the Labour and Social Development Ministry and the Social Insurance Organisation (SIO) relating wages and labour rights for women.
The decisions follow their approval at a meeting this week of the Government Executive Committee, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier.
The Government Executive Committee meeting discussed a number of initiatives aimed at advancing Bahraini women, based on the recommendation of the council, in co-operation with the Finance and National Economy Ministry.
Ms Al Ansari stressed that the Crown Prince’s prompt response to the council’s vision, through his directives to relevant ministries and entities, will have a great impact on the implementation of the National Plan for the Advancement of Bahraini Women and the National Model to Integrate Women’s Needs in Development.
The council’s proposals are part of its efforts to institutionalise equal opportunities between the two sexes, in partnership with the kingdom’s executive and legislative branches, she said.
The Labour and Social Development Ministry issued three edicts to enhance gender equality at workplace, including banning wage discrimination between male and female workers with the same job and similar work conditions, allowing women to work in all industries without restrictions and their employment in all professions that require night shifts.
The SIO also issued an edict stipulating that all leave mentioned in the Labour Law in the Private Sector shall be counted within the periods of participation, subject to the provisions of the Social Insurance Law, including paid leave or unpaid leave that a working woman obtains in case of childbirth or that she deserves to take care of her child.
The Executive Committee also approved the issuance of a circular by the Central Bank of Bahrain to institutions licensed to provide financial services subject to the CBB’s supervision, to prohibit any discrimination based on gender, nationality, origin, language, creed, religion, physical disability or social status in delivering banking and financial services.
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