its citizens in the event of… unemployment…”, Decree-Law No. (78) of 2006
was issued regarding unemployment insurance, according to which the
unemployment insurance system became one of the successful systems in the field
of social solidarity, as it fulfilled part of the financial needs of the job seeker or the
unemployed person, by paying a specific monthly amount according to the person’s
educational qualification. However, The NIHR noted that the provisions of the law
stipulate that the payment of the insurance amount is for a temporary period.
2.10According to the statistics announced by the Ministry of Labor and Social
Development, the number of job seekers who are eligible for unemployment subsidy
and compensation during the year 2020 reached nearly 20 thousand beneficiaries
after removing the repetition of names from the monthly lists.
2.11 Based on the Royal Directives to launch a financial and economic package to
support citizens and the private sector in dealing with the effects of the Covid-19
pandemic, and to maintain sustainable growth, the government has undertaken to
pay the salaries of citizens in the private sector from the unemployment insurance
fund, with the salaries being paid for the months of March, April and May 2020, then
half of the citizens’ salaries were paid for the months of June, July, and August, and
50% of the salaries of insured Bahrainis working in the most affected private sector
establishments were paid for a period of three months (July, August and September
2020), as well as paying 50% of the salaries of Bahrainis in the most affected
sectors, which were still suffering from total and partial lockdown for a period of three
months, starting from October until December 2020.
2.12Article No. (27) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain guarantees the
right to form and join trade unions, stipulating that “the freedom to form
associations and unions, on national principles, for lawful objectives and by
peaceful means is guaranteed under the rules and conditions stipulated by
law, provided that the fundamentals of the religion and public order are not
infringed. No one can be forced to join any association or union or to continue
as a member”. for legitimate aims and by peaceful means, is guaranteed in
accordance with the terms and conditions specified by law, provided that the
foundations of religion and public order are not violated. No one may be
compelled to join or remain in any association or union.”
2.13 Accordingly, Decree-Law No. (33) of 2002 was issued promulgating the Trade
Unions Law and its amendments, which contained the syndicate structure and its
objectives, and the provisions related to the establishment and membership of the
trade union, and others related to its dissolution and the work it is prohibited from
undertaking.
2.14Emanating from the interest of the NIHR to provide the necessary protection for
Parallel Report of the National Institution for Human Rights in the Kingdom of Bahrain submitted to the Committee on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR)@2021
6