The number of job vacancies flattened the number of job seekers by around 100 per cent in the first quarter with unemployment remains at 3.7 per cent.
According to figures revealed during the weekly Cabinet meeting there were 5347 job seekers in Q1 while the number of vacancies reached 10519 in the same period, an index which reflects the ability of the national economy to provide new job opportunities.
The meeting which was chaired by HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister lauded the government’s efforts to create more job opportunities and fight unemployment.
His Royal Highness Prime Minister paid tribute to loyal citizens who have shown overwhelming love and allegiance to their nation and leadership.
“These pure patriotic feelings boost our determination to serve citizens and dedicate ourselves to ensure more prosperity to our nation,” HRH said, while chairing the Cabinet’s regular weekly meeting at Gudaibiya Palace on Sunday.
The Cabinet reviewed the comprehensive national plan of the Works Ministry to upgrade the sewage system in Bahrain and meet set up goals of the Economic Vision 2030 in his regard. It approved raising the number of waste water treatment facilities nationwide to cater to present and future needs and cope with population as well as economic and industrial growth.
As a matter of fact, the number of waste water treatment plants will be brought up from one, in Tubli, to six distributed on Muharraq, the Northern City, the Southern region of Alba and North Sitra. Tubli facility will also be rehabilitated.
The ministerial council directed to exploit treated water for agricultural and industrial use. It also instructed to boost capacity of the transportation, distribution and storage of waste water networks, map out plans to prevent any sewage leak mainly in old parts of the country and enhance performance of Tubli facility.
The Cabinet discussed the executive bill of the municipalities law number 16 for 2002 and approved the amendment of article 10 which stipulates that any decision has to be approved by two third of the municipal council members in order to become effective. It tasked the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs to coordinate with the Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry and other concerned parties to prepare the legal tool for that.
In line with HRH the Premier’s directives to invigorate the national economy with more government projects, the Cabinet reviewed 24 Works Ministry’s projects related to road work, drainage system and buildings.
HRH the Prime Minister directed to ensure that maximum number of contractors benefit from these projects.
The Cabinet approved upgrading the infrastructure in Muharraq especially in regions which have historical and archaeological importance. It also approved a proposal to diversify scholarships granted to graduates from the Religious Institute in order to enable them to join various universities in the GCC and Arab countries offering various scientific and religious disciplines.
In line with a proposal by the parliament, the council tasked the Education Ministry to prepare a comprehensive study on the status of educational funds paid to students studying in Bahrain and abroad and their suitability to the expenditure level and the differences of life expenses from one country to another.
The Cabinet approved a proposal to boost control on hotels and tourism establishments and fight irregularities there. It also approved another proposal by the parliament regarding evacuation and demolition of risky buildings through the government’s allocation of BD 44 million for the dilapidated houses project.
The ministerial council approved continuity of upgrading educational, social and health services for people with special needs and got informed about the efforts exerted by ministries and government bodies to integrate students with special needs in normal schools and provide educational programmes and staff that best suit them.