Latest news with #BD500
Gulf Insider
14-05-2025
- Gulf Insider
Holiday Scam Hits Bahrain
What began as a clever way to beat summer's soaring flight prices has now left hundreds of Bahrain residents with nothing but broken holiday dreams and empty wallets. As social media buzzed with travellers boasting of cheaper fares by stopping over in Asian or European cities before heading home, a Gudaibiya-based travel firm saw an opportunity. Its representatives began approaching visitors at busy malls across the Kingdom, offering lucky draws for a chance to win a 'mini-vacation' stopover package this summer. Old scam, new twist While baiting shoppers with lucky draws and free crockery giveaways to push overpriced travel deals is an old scam, this version was far more convincing. It tapped into the trending 'travel hack' for avoiding summer peak fares – and it worked. Anil Thomas (name changed), one of many victims, said he lost nearly BD500. 'We thought it was a genuine offer. They promised flight tickets with stopovers in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand or even Maldives, combined with stays in luxury hotels, at a fraction of the peak season rates,' he told The Daily Tribune. Anil, who has since lodged complaints with the police, Tawasul and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, added, 'They even offered flexible packages – travel any time within three years. People with families were their main targets, charging different rates for different destinations.' Vanished without a trace Anil's own booking – a supposed Singapore-Malaysia-India trip, later changed to Maldives due to a claimed 'visa issue' – was due to begin this week. Instead, the family of four was left packed and ready, but no tickets ever arrived. Calls went unanswered and the Gudaibiya office was shuttered. 'The company's commercial registration is about to expire in June. I believe they've scammed hundreds and fled the country,' Anil alleged. 'When I spoke to hotel staff, they told me that the travel company had booked the conference hall for every day of the week for the past year. They were running this operation for a full year, continuously duping people. What has come out now is only the tip of the iceberg.' According to him, the scam operated on an industrial scale. 'They hired conference halls at hotels in Seef, where families were brought in droves after being told they had won a lucky draw at a mall. The halls were packed every day of the week. EMI payment options made it easy for people to fall for the deal,' he said. Anil has since begun contacting other victims through social media. 'Many people are ashamed to come forward. But silence only encourages more scams,' he warned. Company silent When The Daily Tribune contacted the travel company for a response, the company did not reply by the time of publication. Also read: Bahrain Ranks First In MENA & GCC Regions In The Global Network Excellence Index
Gulf Insider
17-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
MP Questions Disability Aid Over Job Offer
A man in a wheelchair was offered a job as a truck driver, Parliament was told yesterday, as MPs took aim at the disability assessment system and urged the government to double the monthly allowance. MP Hisham Al Awadhi raised the issue during the session, saying the current BD100 allowance was too low to cover basic needs and that many cases of severe disability were being wrongly denied the higher BD200 rate. He also criticised the assessment process itself. 'People are receiving BD100 without any clarity on how they were evaluated or how long the assessment stands,' he said. 'In some neighbouring countries, the minimum is BD500.' VAT Al Awadhi pointed out that VAT still applies to equipment and supplies used by people with disabilities, increasing monthly costs for families already under pressure. 'There are house hold s spending hundreds of dinars each month, and the allowance doesn't even scratch the surface.' He went on to question the decision to scrap the disability identification card. 'What's the reason? If it's a money issue, I'll pay for every card myself.' Complaint The most striking example came from a recent complaint. Al Awadhi said a man using a wheelchair had been offered work as a trailer truck driver, an offer made by the Ministry of Labour based on a referral from the Social Development Ministry. In response, Social Development Minister, His Excellency Osama Al Alawi, said the government was pressing ahead with its strategy for disability support, which began with the 2006 law setting out rights and entitlements for this group. Monthly allowances He said monthly allowances had been raised in stages over the years, with five categories of severe disability now covered under the BD200 rate. By January 2025, some 14,780 people were receiving support, issued under rules aimed at ensuring fairness in distribution. The minister added that the government's work extended beyond financial aid. Construction is in progress on a new facility, the Comprehensive Disability Centre, which will contain nine buildings and offer services in care, education and rehabilitation. International standards The project is expected to follow international standards for such centres. The ministry also provides BD1.2 million in yearly funding to 12 licensed non-governmental centres around the country. Al Alawi said the ministry is open to ideas from MPs and would continue to work with the Council to improve support for people with disa. Also read: Flatmate Pushes Man Down Stairs In BD20 Row
Daily Tribune
16-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
MP questions disability support after wheelchair user offered driving job
A man in a wheelchair was offered a job as a truck driver, Parliament was told yesterday, as MPs took aim at the disability assessment system and urged the government to double the monthly allowance. MP Hisham Al Awadhi raised the issue during the session, saying the current BD100 allowance was too low to cover basic needs and that many cases of severe disability were being wrongly denied the higher BD200 rate. He also criticised the assessment process itself. 'People are receiving BD100 without any clarity on how they were evaluated or how long the assessment stands,' he said. 'In some neighbouring countries, the minimum is BD500.' VAT Al Awadhi pointed out that VAT still applies to equipment and supplies used by people with disabilities, increasing monthly costs for families already under pressure. ' There are house hold s spending hundreds of dinars each month, and the allowance doesn't even scratch the surface.' He went on to question the decision to scrap the disability identification card. 'What's the reason? If it's a money issue, I'll pay for every card myself.' Complaint The most striking example came from a recent complaint. Al Awadhi said a man using a wheelchair had been offered work as a trailer truck driver, an offer made by the Ministry of Labour based on a referral from the Social Development Ministry. In response, Social Development Minister, His Excellency Osama Al Alawi, said the government was pressing ahead with its strategy for disability support, which began with the 2006 law setting out rights and entitlements for this group. Monthly allowances He said monthly allowances had been raised in stages over the years, with five categories of severe disability now covered under the BD200 rate. By January 2025, some 14,780 people were receiving support, issued under rules aimed at ensuring fairness in distribution. The minister added that the government's work extended beyond financial aid. Construction is in progress on a new facility, the Comprehensive Disability Centre, which will contain nine buildings and offer services in care, education and rehabilitation. International standards The project is expected to follow international standards for such centres. The ministry also provides BD1.2 million in yearly funding to 12 licensed non-governmental centres around the country. Al Alawi said the ministry is open to ideas from MPs and would continue to work with the Council to improve support for people with disa.
Daily Tribune
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Lawyer who defamed MP online spared jail
A lawyer who insulted a sitting MP online during a by-election has avoided prison, despite having his two-month sentence and BD500 fine upheld by the High Criminal Appeals Court. The court agreed to replace the jail term with a non-custodial punishment following a request by the defendant. He had used his social media account to target the MP during the campaign, posting videos that accused him of misconduct and used language intended to mock and belittle. The Public Prosecution charged him with public insult, defamation, spreading false news to sway voters, and misusing telecommunication tools. Behaviour Footage examined during the investigation showed the lawyer making a series of claims about the MP's behaviour during the by-election, many of which were untrue. He also used terms that, prosecutors said, were intended to damage the MP's standing and reputation. The case began with a complaint from the MP, who said the videos were posted at the height of the vote in Muharraq Governorate. Prosecutors questioned him, reviewed the recordings, and referred the lawyer to the Lower Criminal Court. The original conviction was upheld on appeal, though the jail time was replaced with an alternative penalty
Gulf Insider
06-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Bahrain: Consultant Wins BD7,000 After Unlawful Dismissal By Private Firm
A private company has been ordered to pay nearly BD7,000 in wages and compensation to a consultant it unlawfully dismissed, claiming a restaurant project he was hired for had been cancelled. The High Labour Court ruled in favour of the consultant, who had been working under a fixed-term contract at BD500 per month. Instead of settling his dues, the company terminated his employment without payment. His lawyer, Eman Al Ansari, told the court that her client had fulfilled his contractual obligations but received no compensation after being let go. The court rejected the company's claim that financial difficulties and the project's cancellation justified his dismissal. It ruled that the firm must pay BD2,000 in unpaid wages, with interest at six per cent per year, increasing by one per cent monthly after six months, up to a maximum of twelve per cent annually. Additionally, the company was ordered to compensate him BD4,250 f r wrongful termination, BD226 for annual leavedues, B D143 as an end of-service gratuity , and BD83 in lieu of notice. The firm must also provide a return air ticket or its cash equivalent and issue a certificate of employment. The judge acknowledged that the company had dismissed several other employees due to financial struggles, as confirmed by witness testimony. However, the court made it clear that financial hardship does not exempt an employer from fulfilling contractual obligations.
