Minister salutes Bahraini workers, hails their contributions to national development march

Manama, Apr. 30 (BNA): Bahrain will join the international community in observing the International Workers' Day, marked worldwide on May 1, being an opportunity to highlight workers’ achievements and contributions to the nation-building and development, as well as affirm their pivotal role in the three production parties. Labour and Social Development Minister, Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, expressed His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s great appreciation of workers, and constant keenness to take care of them under all circumstances and on various occasions, citing the royal patronage of the annual celebrations held by the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) and the Bahrain Free Labour Union Federation (Al-Hurr) marking the World Labour Day, in addition to honouring outstanding employees. The minister stressed the keenness of the government, led by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, to provide all kinds of support to them, preserve their rights and ensure their professional stability, citing the Cabinet’s praise of the workers’ achievements and role in kingdom’s development march. Humaidan also highlighted the unwavering support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, to workers, which, he said, is reflected in his keenness to give priority to developing the labour market to ensure providing quality job opportunities for the citizens. The minister saluted Bahraini workers, hailing their dedication in serving the homeland at all times and at various work and production sites. Humaidan stressed that workers play a major role in facing the exceptional challenge resulting from the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). He said that the kingdom has taken unprecedented measures to fight COVID-19, and launched distinguished initiatives to protect expatriates, including the provision of a secure and safe work environment and protecting the workers’ rights, without distinction. In this regard, Humaidan valued highly HM the King’s directives to take a series of economic measures that would contribute to ensuring the stability of the labour market, amid the extraordinary circumstances the country is going through. He said that a BD4.3 billion financial and economic stimulus package was launched to mitigate the impacts of the virus at the local level, through paying the salaries of more than 100,000 Bahraini private sector workers, allocating two portfolios to support taxi and bus drivers, in addition to driving trainers, and paying full salaries to staff of kindergartens and nurseries for three months. The measures also included re-directing all the programmes of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) to support companies that have been affected by the virus outbreak, which will contribute to achieving professional stability for the national workforce. He asserted that the government has been keen on consolidating workers’ rights, providing a secure environment for them and taking precautionary measures to protect them from COVID-19 at work sites and accommodation.