Latest news with #TalalMohammedAlManai
Daily Tribune
17-02-2025
- Health
- Daily Tribune
Shura Council approves bill forcing private hospitals to hire more citizens
A revised bill requiring private hospitals to ensure half their medical, technical, and nursing staff are Bahrainis was passed by the Shura Council yesterday. The proposal, first put forward by Parliament, was changed before being pushed through in the same sitting. It will now be sent back to MPs for further review. The planned change to Article 14 of Decree-Law No. 21 of 2015 is aimed at opening up more jobs for Bahraini graduates in the private healthcare sector. Committee rapporteur Talal Mohammed Al Manai said private hospitals would be expected to give first pick to Bahraini doctors, nurses, and technicians who meet the needed standards. Exceptions 'The only exceptions would be for jobs that need rare skills not found locally,' he said. Some Shura members questioned whether the plan would work in practice. Jameela Al Salman said forcing hospitals to stick to a fixed percentage could create hurdles. 'No other professions, including teaching and engineering, have strict hiring quotas,' she said. 'Private hospitals can't control how many Bahrainis choose to work in the sector.' She also pointed out that Gulf countries have moved away from set quotas, instead leaning on staged targets and job schemes to bring in more locals. Ali Al Aradi said the change did not match the country's current rules on private healthcare. 'Three different laws cross over in this amendment,' he said. 'The private healthcare law, the decree that set up the Supreme Council of Health, and the law that brought in the National Health Regulatory Authority. If this bill is passed, we'll also need to change the decree for the health council, or there'll be gaps in the rules.' Law Second Deputy Chair Jihad Al Fadhel said Bahraini doctors were often paid less than they should be, and the law could help fix that. 'We can't let market demand be the only thing that decides who gets hired,' she said. 'This will make sure Bahraini doctors have better chances, without cutting off the private sector's ability to bring in expert staff when needed.'
Gulf Insider
10-02-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Bahrain: Shura Council Approves Staggered Fines for Work Permit Breaches
Lump-sum fines for labour breaches are out, with a decree-law slashing penalties in half and giving businesses more time to settle violations winning Shura Council approval yesterday. The move, already cleared by Parliament on the final day of 2024, replaces immediate BD1,000 fines with a staggered system ranging from BD100 to BD300, giving firms up to 14 days to sort out expired work permits before tougher penalties kick in. The decree-law, issued by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in August last year and now retroactively endorsed by the upper house, took effect the next day. It replaces blanket fines with a tiered system that gives employers more time to fix violations before being hit with heavier penalties. Committee rapporteur Talal Mohammed Al Manai said the overhaul was about keeping businesses running while ensuring the law is followed. 'Most breaches aren't the result of bad intentions, but rather the day-to-day mess of running a business. This decree-law makes sure companies can comply without being crushed under penalties that don't fit the circumstances,' he said. Acting Labour Minister Yousif Khalaf defended the changes, saying the old rules were too rigid and left businesses tangled in red tape. 'The government's review teams found that many violations weren't deliberate. The system itself made it too easy to slip up,' he said. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry had also pressed for a rethink, arguing that small businesses were particularly exposed under the old rules. Dr Jehad Al Fadhel, the Shura Council's Second Deputy Chairperson, said the shift was necessary. 'This is about correction, not punishment. The goal isn't to penalise businesses into shutting down but to help them fix mistakes,' she said. She asked for recent figures on how many firms had opted for reconciliation and sought clarification on why repeat offenders were now eligible. Khalaf said the government's review had shown that many breaches came down to bureaucratic tangles rather than intentional misconduct. 'The clampdown was backfiring. Too many firms were getting tripped up by a process that was hard to navigate, not because they were deliberately breaking the rules,' he said. Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) Chief Executive Nibras Talib admitted that excessive paperwork had been a problem. 'Even something as basic as a permit renewal was a hassle,' he said.
Daily Tribune
10-02-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Shura Council approves staggered fines for work permit breaches
Lump-sum fines for labour breaches are out, with a decree-law slashing penalties in half and giving businesses more time to settle violations winning Shura Council approval yesterday. The move, already cleared by Parliament on the final day of 2024, replaces immediate BD1,000 fines with a staggered system ranging from BD100 to BD300, giving firms up to 14 days to sort out expired work permits before tougher penalties kick in. The decree-law, issued by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in August last year and now retroactively endorsed by the upper house, took effect the next day. It replaces blanket fines with a tiered system that gives employers more time to fix violations before being hit with heavier penalties. Committee rapporteur Talal Mohammed Al Manai said the overhaul was about keeping businesses running while ensuring the law is followed. 'Most breaches aren't the result of bad intentions, but rather the day-to-day mess of running a business. This decree-law makes sure companies can comply without being crushed under penalties that don't fit the circumstances,' he said. Acting Labour Minister Yousif Khalaf defended the changes, saying the old rules were too rigid and left businesses tangled in red tape. 'The government's review teams found that many violations weren't deliberate. The system itself made it too easy to slip up,' he said. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry had also pressed for a rethink, arguing that small businesses were particularly exposed under the old rules. Dr Jehad Al Fadhel, the Shura Council's Second Deputy Chairperson, said the shift was necessary. 'This is about correction, not punishment. The goal isn't to penalise businesses into shutting down but to help them fix mistakes,' she said. She asked for recent figures on how many firms had opted for reconciliation and sought clarification on why repeat offenders were now eligible. Khalaf said the government's review had shown that many breaches came down to bureaucratic tangles rather than intentional misconduct. 'The clampdown was backfiring. Too many firms were getting tripped up by a process that was hard to navigate, not because they were deliberately breaking the rules,' he said. Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) Chief Executive Nibras Talib admitted that excessive paperwork had been a problem.
