The report has also shown positive indices concerning employment despite local and regional challenges.
The cabinet was informed about a number of labour market indices in the fourth quarter of 2011 through a memorandum submitted by the Labour Minister and board Chairman of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA).
Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa chaired at Gudaibiya Palace today the cabinet regular weekly meeting.
The ministerial council praised the speech of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa before the World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia 2012, which was held recently in Thailand, in which HRH the Prime Minister presented a diagnosis of the global economic situation and visions to boost cooperation between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
At a request by the Deputy Premier, Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa briefed the council on the outcome of HRH the Prime Minister’s participation in WEF and his meeting with his Thai counterpart to bolster cooperation between both countries.
The cabinet hailed the recent visit of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander, to India stressing its significance in further cementing bilateral links.
At a request by the Deputy Premier, the transportation Minister informed the council about HRH the Crown Prince’s discussions with senior Indian officials and the agreements signed to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields.
Reviewing the local situation, the cabinet underlined the key role played by the youth in developing the society. It called for communal efforts to protect the youngsters from delinquency, misguidance and exploitation to commit illegal acts.
The cabinet called on parents to assume their responsibilities and shield their children from being misled into illicit practices.
The cabinet stressed that the doors of dialogue are always open for all social components.
In line with the government’s trend to boost human rights and ensure legislations and programmes in this respect are in harmony with international standards, the ministerial council decided to set up a supreme committee that will be headed by Deputy Premier Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa to follow up on the recommendations of the Human Rights Council while discussing the kingdom’s second Universal Periodic Review report in Geneva recently.
The State Minister for Human Rights Affairs will take charge of following up on the implementation of those recommendations with concerned ministries and government bodies and provide the supreme committee with a first-hand update on that.
The cabinet reviewed the government’s strategy to prevent youngsters from falling prey to ill-intentioned attempts to engage them in illicit and anti-social behaviour.
Within this context, the council spotlighted various options included in a memorandum by the Human Rights and Social Development Minister to immunize the youth from such exploitation. It decided to set up a supreme committee headed by the Human Rights and Social Development Minister to study a plan to tackle juvenile crimes.
The cabinet hailed cooperation between the executive and legislative powers in carrying out the National Consensus Dialogue visions and the recommendations of Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI).
The council reviewed a report submitted by the Shura and Representatives Councils’ Affairs Minister on the second session of the third legislative term which included a detailed account on the volume of cooperation between the two powers.
The cabinet stressed keenness to ensure the output of educational and training establishments meet the highest quality standards by remedying any detected shortcomings.
The council approved 20 reports by the Quality Assurance Authority for Education and Training (QAAET) on public and private schools’ performance, 10 reports on vocational training institutions, 4 reports on higher education establishments, including the University of Bahrain and some private universities, 8 reports on the programmes of some universities and 3 other follow-up reports reviewing some of those universities’ programmes.
The cabinet gave the green light to the Electricity and Water Authority to follow up on its judicial issues directly by assigning the representation of the authority with a private lawyer’s office to fast-track recoup of its arrears from the subscribers.
The decision is in line with a memorandum submitted by the Energy Minister in this regard.
The cabinet discussed a memorandum by the Health Minister regarding a draft decree to determine the remunerations of board chairman and members of the National Authority for the Regulation of Health Professions and Services, in line with article 5 of law number 38 for the year 2009. The council instructed to take the necessary procedures for that.
The cabinet reviewed a memorandum by the Transportation Minister concerning access to regional and international organisations in civil aviation, postal service and air transportation.
It also reviewed the government’s schemes and strategies to tackle unemployment.
The council was also briefed about the activities and achievements of the Industry and Commerce Ministry in 2011 through a memorandum by the Industry and Commerce Minister.