Latest news with #JalalKadhem
Daily Tribune
7 days ago
- Health
- Daily Tribune
MP pushes for jobless pay for freelancers
A proposal aiming to give self-employed Bahrainis a chance to draw jobless pay during bouts of ill-health has been tabled by MP Jalal Kadhem. His amendment to the 2006 Unemployment Insurance Decree would let freelancers and people running their own businesses voluntarily sign up for an insurance scheme currently reserved for employed workers. Those affected by illness or injury, unrelated to work, would become eligible for monthly payments equal to 60 per cent of their average earnings, capped at BD1,000, provided the medical condition lasts no fewer than 30 days. To claim the support, the person must be Bahraini, aged at least 18, registered in the voluntary insurance scheme, and dependent solely on their profession for income. The incapacity has to be medically certified by authorised committees. Serious hurdles Kadhem pointed out clearly in his explanatory note how people working for themselves face serious hurdles whenever sickness puts their livelihoods on pause. 'These individuals face major challenges in the event of a temporary health condition that prevents them from performing their work,' he wrote. 'This leads to a complete halt in monthly income, negatively affecting the morale, finances, and mental wellbeing of the entire family.' The proposal creates a new category of 'voluntarily insured person', covering freelancers and self-employed citizens who join the voluntary social insurance scheme.
Daily Tribune
26-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Tribune
MP pushes for 24-hour dental emergency units across Kingdom to ease pressure on clinics
Toothache patients left queuing for hours or facing weeks-long waits are being priced out of treatment, says MP Jalal Kadhem, who wants 24-hour dental emergency units set up across the Kingdom to ease the pressure. Kadhem has called on the Ministry of Health to open round-the-clock dental services in health centres in every governorate. He said morning clinics are overcrowded, appointments are hard to come by, and patients who cannot afford to wait are being forced into the private sector, where costs can be steep. Dental problems Some dental problems, he said, need dealing with straight away. Infections and pain do not follow schedules, but public care often does. By the time an appointment becomes available, many have already paid out of pocket or gone without treatment altogether. Care Kadhem believes setting up emergency dental units that stay open through the night would ease the pressure on existing services and give patients another route to care. He added that the move could also create work for unemployed Bahraini dentists and urged the government to put aside enough money to get the plan running. The lawmaker pointed to the constitution, which states that healthcare is a right for all citizens and that the government must provide ways to ensure it, including building hospitals and clinics. Budget talks He reminded Parliament that during budget talks, he had pressed for more spending on health. The idea also ties in with measures ordered by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. These include keeping some primary care centres open throughout the night and stretching the working hours of others into the evening. Kadhem said this is in line with what MPs have been raising for some time, and it should help make services easier to reach while easing the pressure on packed clinics.
Daily Tribune
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
More cases resolved than filed last year
More lawsuits were settled in Bahrain last year than were filed, according to Justice Minister, His Excellency Nawaf Al Maawda, with over 59,000 cases brought to a close in 2024 as the courts pressed on with their caseload. The figures came in response to a written question from MP Jalal Kadhem, who sought a breakdown of court activity since the beginning of the current legislative term. He asked for separate counts of civil, criminal and Sharia cases involving Bahrainis and expatriates, along with data on final rulings, pending cases, enforcement and interim orders such as travel bans or asset freezes. In his written reply, the minister said 57,311 new cases had been filed during 2024 across all courts. By the end of the year, 59,280 had been concluded, roughly 103 per cent of those filed, leaving just over 10,200 cases still before the courts. Pattern A similar pattern was recorded the year before. In 2023, 57,615 cases were registered and 60,400 settled. The number of ongoing cases at the close of that year stood at 11,000. The minister also provided figures for cases in which temporary measures had been requested. Between the start of the term and the date of reply, there were 3,922 such lawsuits. Of these, 3,851 had concluded, 63 remained in progress and eight had been put on hold. Final ruling As for enforcement, Al Maawda noted that carrying out a final ruling depends on a party stepping forward to request action, either through a court decision or an enforceable deed. The process then follows the path laid out in Bahrain's Civil and Commercial Execution Law issued by Decree-Law No. 22 of 2021. He added that the ministry continues to support the work of the Supreme Judicial Council in improving access to justice and is making use of electronic tools to speed up case handling and reduce delays.
Daily Tribune
09-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
MPs pass Press Law reform, drop jail sentences, and introduce licensing requirements for online media
MPs yesterday voted to scrap prison terms for publishing offences and bring Bahrain's online media under formal regulation, passing sweeping changes to the Press Law that also introduce licensing requirements for digital platforms. 'Get a job, sir, instead of sitting in a cafe stirring unrest,' said MP Jalal Kadhem during the debate. He criticised those who rely on social media for income while spreading rumours or recycling the work of newspapers. His remark echoed a wider frustration in the chamber with unlicensed online outlets. The revised law, now titled the Press, Printing and Electronic Media Law, updates Decree-Law No. 47 of 2002. The final vote followed a tense session. Seventeen MPs, including the Speaker, backed the bill and nine voted against. Licensing regime The law brings digital publishers, online news sites and content platforms under a formal licensing regime. Those already operating will have six months to register. Anyone continuing without a licence may face a fine of up to BD10,000. Foreign correspondents will also be required to obtain permission to operate in the country. The mechanism for that will be set by royal decree. Suspension Courts will now be able to suspend newspapers or block websites at the investigation stage if the content is seen to threaten national security or public order. Media outlets, online or in print, must also publish official announcements related to sovereignty, defence, security or health, provided they are received in time for release. Another article allows the ministry, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to direct outlets not to publish certain material issued by foreign governments. Breaches may lead to fines. A clause that would have allowed the Minister of Information to license media and advertising activity not covered by current laws was struck out during the session. Concerns Several MPs raised concerns over its scope and lack of oversight. Information Minister, His Excellency Dr Ramzan Al Nuaimi, said the law was aimed only at professional media, not at individual users of social platforms. 'The law is for proper media, not for people posting on their personal pages,' he told the chamber. He said the sole concern raised by digital media workers had been addressed in the final version and confirmed that any page engaged in media or advertising work would be formally licensed. Dr Al Nuaimi added that many are already covered by advertising laws. Clause The Minister also said that a clause requiring media owners to hold full political rights had been dropped. Licence revocations, he said, would generally require a court ruling, except in a handful of specific cases detailed in the law. Kadhem, who submitted over a dozen suggested revisions, said the measure was intended to bring the law in line with how media now operates. 'This is not a new law, it is a revision of what is already there,' he said. 'We went through the proposals in full, and changes were made after discussions with account holders and others.' Comparisons He rejected comparisons between social media and institutional journalism. 'If someone claims social media is a source of income, they should find work like everyone else,' he said. 'We are not in a jungle. We live in a country of laws. The state regulates print and broadcast media, so why not digital?' 'There is a difference between using a platform to inform and using it to inflame or pull foreign quarrels into the country,' he added. MP Hassan Ibrahim also welcomed the law. He said it marked a move away from criminal punishment for publishing disputes. 'We have removed the word 'discipline' and replaced it with 'accountability'. It is not just language, it is the principle behind it,' he said.
Daily Tribune
07-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
MPs vote to limit foreign work permits amid government and labour authorities' concerns
MPs voted yesterday to impose a legal cap on foreign work permits, advancing the measure despite concerns from the government and labour authorities that it could prove counterproductive. The bill, which now moves to the Shura Council for further examination, would amend Article 4 of the 2006 law regulating Bahrain's labour market by replacing a discretionary clause with one that makes a cap compulsory. The change, if enacted, would require the Ministry of Labour to include a fixed limit within the national labour plan. Coordination This must be done in coordination with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and with the approval of the Cabinet. The plan is due every four years, although it may be revised more frequently if needed. Debate in the chamber was direct and, at times, charged. Crowded villages MP Mamdouh Al Saleh warned that expat workers were crowding villages, placing pressure on infrastructure and shifting the character of local communities. He spoke of packed hospitals, congested roads and overcrowded homes. His argument was that the issue had moved beyond numbers and had become a matter of public strain. Visa system MP Jalal Kadhem said the visa system had become rife with abuse. He pointed to small businesses obtaining multiple trade licences and then acquiring permits in bulk, sometimes two, four or even eight, without proving real demand. 'The rule allowing two foreign permits for every Bahraini hire has pushed numbers far beyond what the market can carry,' he said. MP Khaled Buanaq focused on safety and enforcement.
