New vision for housing labourers

The Cabinet chaired by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa yesterday directed to address the issue of labour camps spreading into residential neighbourhoods meant for families.

HRH the Premier also instructed the Minister of Labour and Social Development to carry out inspections into the accommodation facilities of expat labourers to prevent them from staying in old or dilapidated buildings. The Cabinet noted that the safety of labourers is of utmost importance.

The move follows many lawmakers complaining about the spread of labour camps into residential neighbourhoods, creating a panic over social security. The Premier also asked the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning and the Ministry of Labour and Social Development to submit their visions and recommendations in this regard. Among other things, HRH the Premier gave directives to speed up taking measures that would support licensed shrimpers who had been affected by the shrimp trawling ban decision.

The Ministerial Committee for Financial, Economic and Fiscal Balance Affairs has been asked to submit the necessary administrative and financial recommendations to implement the Premier’s directives, a post-session statement by the Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr Yasser Al Nasser, said.