His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, today chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting, held remotely.

In recognition of World Health Day, the Cabinet began by expressing its appreciation for all health workers on the frontline of the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, noting that the year 2020 marks the International Year of the Nurses and Midwives.

The Cabinet also highlighted the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, which celebrates sport’s ability to strengthen social ties and promote sustainable development.

The Cabinet underscored Bahrain’s support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s call to hold a meeting of OPEC+ countries to achieve equilibrium within the global oil market.

Following the meeting, the Cabinet Secretary-General, HE Dr. Yasser bin Issa Al-Nasser, made the following remarks:

1. The Cabinet reviewed the Government Executive Committee’s memorandum which aims to spearhead private sector-led growth. In this regard, the Cabinet commended HRH the Crown Prince’s decision number (5) of 2020 regarding the termination of monthly work fees and a number of other fees related to issuing and renewing work permits imposed by the Labour Market Authority for a period of three months, for all 1-year work permits, while bearing in mind that in the event an employee transfers to another employer, the new employer must compensate the initial employer for the fees paid in advance for the remaining period of the permit.

2. The Cabinet approved the recommendations of the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Financial Balance, presented by HE the Deputy Prime Minister, amending resolution (15) of 2017 to reduce port operating costs and maritime fees. As a result, the handling charges for bulk materials such as sugar, gypsum, iron and sponge iron will be reduced by 20% in response to market dynamics.

3. The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding (MoU) submitted by HE the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism on reconstituting the National Committee of the World Trade Organization.

4. The Cabinet agreed on the fundamental charter of the Arab Space Cooperation Group, which is intended to support Arab space cooperation, as well as facilitate the exchange of expertise and capacity building. The decision follows the recommendations of HE the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs Ministerial Committee.

5. The Cabinet approved a draft resolution presented by HE the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs Ministerial Committee amending the classification of controlled drugs to add additional substances to the second and third drug classification group.

6. The Cabinet referred a draft headquarters agreement between the Government of Kingdom of Bahrain and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislation Affairs for further study.

7. The Cabinet took note of an MoU submitted by the Minister of Health on the vital role nurses and midwives play in the provision of health services, in recognition of the World Health Organization’s designation of the year 2020 as year of the nurse and midwife.

8. The Cabinet approved a proposal from the Council of Representatives to accelerate the construction of a Health Centre in Budaiya.

9. The Cabinet approved a draft of the Government’s response to a proposal on sickle cell disease patients and a proposal on births in the western region of the Northern Governorate.