Bahrain's Council of Representatives yesterday (March 24) approved a partial curfew from 6 pm to 5 am in the kingdom, with the exception of those whose work in providing essential services.

 

The recommendation will now go the Cabinet for urgent review and decision.

 

At the session of the council, Speaker Fawzia bint Abdulla Zainal extended deepest thanks, appreciation and gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for the launch of the economic stimulus package, worth BD4.3 billion, to mitigate the effects of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) at the local level, said a Bahrain News Agency report.

 

She also hailed HM the King’s directives to allow working mothers in the public sector to perform their duties from home during this exceptional period, and in line with the royal keenness to support working women in Bahrain.

 

The session approved several urgent proposals, and referred them to the government. They included:

 

* Giving illegal expatriate workers a grace period to rectify their legal situation and leave the country to limit the spread of COVID-19;

* Setting up a new fund for contributions and donations of businessmen, national companies, banks and individuals to cover costs of COVID-19 and other disasters;

* Including working mothers in companies, entities and institutions in which the state owns 50% in the working from home system for women in public sector;

* Delivering e-services at ministries and service departments.

* Paying an incentive bonus for volunteers in the National Campaign to Combat 'Coronavirus'.

* The economic stimulus package should be limited to supporting small, medium-sized and micro private sector companies and enterprises which have been affected negatively by COVID-19, and the precautionary measures enforced to combat it.

* Granting teachers a holiday like students.