MPs are set to vote on a controversial legislation that would see the introduction of 20 per cent tax on value of imported products that compete with local handicrafts.
The vote will be held as Parliament convenes on Tuesday.
The National Traditional Handicrafts Protection Law aims to safeguard and revive Bahrain’s dying professions. It also seeks to provide Bahraini products with international intellectual and genuine certification.
However, the key legislation was put on hold in January 2020 following the Covid-19 outbreak.
Since then, local craftsmen have been urging legislators to push ahead with the law to rescue the country’s traditional professions from financial devastation.
However, Parliament’s services committee is refusing to back the law – asserting that Bahrain’s traditional handicrafts were already being considered as marketable industries by the government.
“We have the National Committee for Handicrafts in Bahrain since 1985, so there is no need for the law,” the Cabinet said.
“All goals that MPs want to achieve through this law could be addressed by the committee.”
Meanwhile, Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed Alzayani told MPs that a comprehensive strategy is in place to protect the handicrafts sector, while turning it into a flourishing industry that generates financial rewards.
“We don’t need to impose tariffs on imported items because our products have a distinct appeal and are preferred by consumers,” he said.
The Labour and Social Development Ministry has sought more clarity asking if traditional home food products would also be included under the law.
The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) pointed out that a special directorate for local handicrafts has already been set up under its administrative structure and it was working to promote items in an innovative way.
“All our traditional products are unique. They match modern taste and standards and have the Made in Bahrain tag,” Baca said.
MPs will also debate proposed amendments to the 2015 Commercial Registrations (CRs) Law that would see closed and public shareholding companies listed under Bahrain Bourse. The government-drafted amendment would give the bourse the power to review and issue permits for such companies.
Legislators were at loggerheads with Mr Alzayani over the amendment in November last year.
The minister asserted that the bourse should grant CRs as it would allow more flexibility for movement of stocks amongst those companies.
MPs opposed the move saying that it would rob the government of revenue – with the bourse being a company and not a government body.
However, Mr Alzayani pointed out that the bourse was fully owned by the government. He said it was also under the supervision of the Central Bank of Bahrain and the ministry, and governed according to international standards.
In separate amendments to the Commercial Registration Law, MPs are also proposing that the ministry concerned stop cancelling CRs or closing outlets administratively unless a court order is issued.
Mr Alzayani said punitive measures are not taken unless serious offences are committed.
“We have taken administrative measures and closed outlets 149 times in 2019. These were out of 80,000 active CRs while terminated CRs were 0.095pc the same year,” he added.
MPs will also debate amendments to the 2010 Financial Integrity Law suspended since December 2020.
It would have seen trade unionists and trade union federation board members declare their finances and that of their families in the same manner as public representatives, ministers and senior government officials.
Seventeen MPs were in favour and 17 against the amendments at the time.
In other debates, Parliament will look into a government-drafted bill to change the 1979 Gulf Petrochemicals Industries Company Set-up Law. It comes following a request from Saudi Arabia, a major shareholder, to allow more business activities such as shipping, handling and loading.
MPs will also vote on the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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