BAHRAINI breadwinners could receive a BD50 fuel allowance under a parliamentary proposal that will be debated on Tuesday.
MPs say the aid is vital as several families are feeling the pinch of the rising cost of living amid slumping oil prices and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Finance and National Economy Ministry had earlier told MPs that they were already allocating more than BD400 million for social welfare schemes every year and that the fuel allowance would be an added burden.
Children
Parliament will also vote on giving a BD20 monthly allowance for every Bahraini child aged below 18 – with the benefit extending to a maximum of four children of a caretaking parent.
The government has stressed that such a move would not be feasible at the moment as it would cost an average of BD64m a year.
MPs are set to vote on amendments to the 1965 Foreigners (Migration and Residency) Law that would give long-term residency to children of Bahraini mothers on criteria to be determined by the Interior Minister. It wouldn’t however apply to children who have found jobs or are aged 25 and above.
Civil servants could be given a BD300 cash award annually for being disciplined at work.
MPs will vote on amendments to the 2010 Civil Service Law to give awards to employees who deliver an exceptional performance, are never late to work and take not more than five days of sick leave a year.
The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) said the award would require the government to set aside a huge amount, while outstanding performance was already being rewarded.
The 2015 Infrastructure Levy Law will also be up for debate with Parliament seeking to exempt Bahrainis from paying the tax while demolishing their homes for reconstruction.
The Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry said it was already giving such an exemption – on condition that the new home is not bigger than the older one.
Meanwhile, legislators will vote to reject a proposal by the Shura Council to state the final beneficiaries of commercial registrations (CRs) law.
Under the 2015 Commercial Registrations Law and its 2018 amendments, five articles mention regulations and punishments related to violations, improper registration or misuses of final beneficiaries, without any terminology reference to who or what they are.
Shura’s financial and economic affairs committee in December 2019 found that such wrong build-up of legislation means that individuals or establishments were being ordered to enforce regulations and face punishments that include terminations of CRs besides lofty fines for something that is missing from law.
Shura defined final beneficiaries as those who own commercial establishments, individually or as a company, those who control a commercial establishment other than owners, or unknowns who see commercial deals done or decisions taken on their behalf without them being involved.
Parliament believes the definition is clear and doesn’t need specification with the government already calling for a rethink on the subject.
MPs will also insist on a new legislation that would force investors to allocate up to 50 per cent of their property on coasts free of cost for the public. This has been rejected by the Shura Council who assert that it is trespassing on private property.
A mutual aviation agreement with Italy will also be discussed and voted on at the session.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
&uuid=(email))