Bahrain is enforcing tougher measures to better monitor fundraising and cash donations.

His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, who chaired the Cabinet’s weekly session at Gudaibiya Palace yesterday (June 22), ordered that action be taken against anyone collecting money without a proper licence, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

It comes amid a surge in donations to charitable, humanitarian, social and religious causes, as Muslims believe charity to be more handsomely rewarded during Ramadan than in any other month of the year.

The ministries of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Interior and Social Development have been instructed to take action against anyone without a valid licence fundraising in or near mosques, on roads and pavements or in other public places.

The Premier said his visit to Kuwait later in the day will aim to strengthen historic bilateral relations.

Ministers also heard that the number of Bahrainis getting jobs in the private sector has increased by seven per cent in the first three months of the year compared with the same period last year.

Labour Minister Jameel Humaidan updated the session with statistics showing that employment had increased by 5pc during the first quarter of the year in comparison with the same period last year, which covers January, February and March, while new work permits that were issued during that period increased by 25 per cent.

The Cabinet has also given the London-based Chartered Institute of Arbitrators a licence to develop Bahrain’s arbitration sector through training in collaboration with the Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry.

Meanwhile, Information Affairs Minister and official government spokesman Isa Al Hammadi said that parliament and the Shura Council had until July 20 to decide on revisions to the national budget for this year and the next.

The Cabinet has also directed the Health Ministry to come up with preventive measures to combat the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in line with World Health Organisation regulations. - TradeArabia News Service