Cabinet condemns attack on oil tankers, backs Saudi Arabia

His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa chaired the regular weekly Cabinet session, attended by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, at the Gudaibiya Palace today.

Attack on Saudi oil tankers condemned

The Cabinet condemned the attempts of the terrorist Houthi militias to target two Saudi oil tankers crossing the Bab Al-Mandab Strait in the Red Sea.

The session described the cowardly attack, which was foiled thanks to the vigilance of the marine forces of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition, as a terrorist escalation that poses a serious threat to the freedom of international trade and maritime navigation in Bab Al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia backed

The session affirmed the Kingdom's full-fledged support for Saudi Arabia, and backing of the measures it deems necessary to protect its resources, security and stability, a statement by the Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al-Nasser, said.

Zero tolerance towards trafficking in persons

The Cabinet, marking the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, underlined the government's keenness to continue adopting procedures and measure that would make Bahrain free from inhuman practices related to such an internationally-rejected crime.

The session affirmed Bahrain's unwavering keenness to continue its cooperation with the International Community to collectively eradicate all forms of trafficking in persons, and raise societies' awareness and knowledge of human rights.

28 government services re-engineered

The Cabinet reviewed a memorandum submitted by the Executive Committee, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince, on the second phase of the project to re-engineer government procedures, included within the second edition of the Unified Framework for the government programmes with priority.

The 28-service scheme, targeting eight services in the first phase, and 20 in the second, aims to improve the quality of government services, increase their competitiveness, and ensure transparency as well as efficiency in delivering services in order to meet the aspirations of citizens and residents.

It also aims to ensure easy and simple procedures while delivering services, which would save time, effort and cost, as well as maintain high qulity.

HRH the Prime Minister gave directives to launch the third phase of the scheme in order to re-engineer more government services through simplifying their proceduring and ensuring that their completion in shorter periods of time.

HRH Crown Prince's efforts commended

In this regard, HRH the Prime Minister commended the efforts exerted by HRH the Crown Prince through the Executive Committee which oversaw the re-engineering of 28 government services during the first two phases of the scheme, in cooperation with the Civil Service Bureau (CSB).

Requirements for granting paid rest hours to disabled people discussed

The session discussed the conditions and standards that determine the cases of disability that require granting two paid rest hours per day for the employees or workers with disabilities or who those caring for disabled relatives of the first degree, in line with the provisions of the law on the welfare, rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities.

The session was informed about the recommendations of the Ministerial Committee for Social Services, Communications and Media in this regard, presented by HH Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister and committee chairman, and decided to refer them to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs.

Foreign companies to be allowed to carry out towage and pilotage services

The Cabinet endorsed a proposal to allow companies with foreign capital to carry out the towage and pilotage services by 100% ownership.

The proposal, based on a recommendation presented by the Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalising Expenditure, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, aims to pave the way for international companies to practice towage and pilotage services in the kingdom, and invest in them.

Draft Arab security agreement endorsed

The session approved a draft security agreement among the Arab League's member states aiming at enhancing cooperation among them in order to prevent various types of crimes, track down the perpetrators and exchange information on them, which will contribute to preventing and combating criminality.

The Cabinet mandated the Interior Minister to sign the agreement on behalf of the Kingdom, based on a recommendation by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs, presented by Deputy Premier and committee chairman, Jawad Al Arrayed.

Source: Bahrain News Agency