Bahraini women’s strides highlighted at ILC 2018

Geneva, Jun. 2 (BNA): Labour and Social Development Minister, Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, has stressed that Bahrain has made major strides in consolidating equal opportunities and increasing the rate of women’s participation in the labour market. Such efforts enjoy the support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who established the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) in 2001, under the leadership of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King and SCW President, the minister said. The SCW oversees the implementation of the national plans for the advancement of Bahraini women in all fields in order to enable women to attain key achievements and gains, he added. This came as he addressed the 107th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC 2018), held here from May 28 to June 8. According to Humaidan, women account for 39% of the overall national workforce. Women represent more than 50% in the public sector, and reach 80% in some sectors, such as education and health services, he said, adding that national statistics and reports have shown an increase in the average of women’s income over the past decade by 100%. He stressed that the rehabilitation and training programmes offered in Bahrain have resulted in high rates of women’s integration in the labour market, as well as in their active involvement in many new work fields, without any without any form of discrimination in treatment, employment privileges or remuneration. On incentives provided by Bahrain to facilitate women’s integration in business, the minister asserted that the kingdom offers programmes to finance small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and productive families, which motivates females to start their own enterprises, and, as result, 39% of commercial registrations in Bahrain are owned by women. The minister also affirmed that women now women are in charge of 45% of senior private sector leadership, and of 59% of middle administrative positions, noting that efforts are continuing to ensure that women always enjoy the right status and social protection, in tribute for the key role they are playing in building the family and society. The minister called on the International Labour Organisation to intensify programmes targeting social partners in this regard, and inform the relevant parties about the opportunities about fields that are available for women, as well as support families in caring for their children, noting that the provision of social care programmes for children will contribute to consolidating women’s presence in the labour market, as it will give the right time and ability to develop their career and skills. Tacking the situation in workers in the occupied Arab lands, the minister highlighted the negative aspects of the labour market there, including increased unemployment rates and lack of job security and equality. He reiterated the kingdom’s full-fledged support to the brotherly Palestinian people in order to achieve their inalienable legitimate rights, calling on the International Community to exert more efforts to ensure a stable economic situation for the Palestinians, and to provide the requirements of decent living to them.