26 Feb – 4 Mar 2015
The issue gaining most attention from MPs this week has been that of illegal foreign workers. With the agreement on a dedicated parliamentary committee to monitor this issue, activism on this area is likely to continue.
Related concerns were raised in a debate on a revised public health bill to monitor food standards. Many MPs highlighted the issue of unregulated foreign vendors selling food products at the side of the street.
Parliamentary attack on free visas
Over recent days, Bahraini deputies have increasingly been speaking out about the phenomenon of unregistered foreign labourers working under the so-called free visa system. MPs like Adel Hamid have stressed the economic and security risks of the increasing numbers of people staying in Bahrain illegally. According to official figures, the number may be as many as 60,000 foreign nationals.
MP Isa al-Kooheji raised the issue on Parliament on 3 March and called for a parliamentary committee to be formed to address the issue. A lengthy session followed, with numerous deputies standing up to stress the implications of not addressing this issue. Many were critical of the Government’s handling of the matter. A majority of MPs voted in agreement with Al-Kooheji’s proposal for a committee. This is in parallel with a committee commissioned just a week ago by the Cabinet to investigate the same issue.
Public sector bonuses
During the 3 March parliamentary session, MP Jamal Dawoud stridently criticized the Finance Minister over the payment of over 3.4 million BD bonuses to Pension Fund Authority employees. Dawoud said that this was a “waste” at a time when the department was reporting a budget shortfall. “Bonuses are only appropriate for profitable companies that have large surpluses, not for an entity facing bankruptcy,” Dawoud stated. The Finance Minister responded that these payments were the “right” and could not be halted.
Regulating street vendors
A debate on proposed amendments to the public health bill for much of the time focused on the issue of street vendors. The proposed amendments provide for additional official scrutiny of food products on sale in Bahrain. However, currently products sold on the side of the street are not subject to the same levels of scrutiny.
Opinion differed between some MPs who argued that these vendors should be properly regulated and others who said that selling products on the side of the street should be banned altogether, alleging that many such vendors were non-registered non-Bahrainis. Parliament is to continue debating revisions to the Public Health bill over the coming week.
Absentee MPs
The administration office for the Parliament has warned MPs of the need to rigourously attend all parliamentary sessions, unless they are absent on official business or other unavoidable circumstances. The statement said that “numerous absences from Parliament and committee sessions had been noted without any written notice”.
Head of Parliament Ahmed al-Mulla has also recently aired his concerns about the issue and threatened to deduct pay from regular absentees.
Citizens for Bahrain on this matter expresses its disappointment that at this early stage in the parliamentary cycle there are already MPs who are not fulfilling public expectations to consistently represent the views of Bahrainis in all parliamentary sessions. We hope that this issue is addressed decisively, that punitive measures are taken against any MP not fulfilling their duties and that the names of underperforming MPs are made known to the public.
Penal Code reforms
The Shura Council approved comprehensive reforms to the Penal Code during its Sunday session. However, it is to formally vote on the measures during its session next week. The draft then must be ratified by the King.
The previous Penal Code extends back to 1976, although many modifications have been made since then. The current draft aims to bring the Code into line with the requirements of the present day. In most cases the new penalties are stiffer and cover punishments for murder, assault, armed crime and fraud.