NIHR Organizes a Seminar on Women’s Rights and Equal Pay
Coinciding with the Bahraini Women’s Day, the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) organized a seminar entitled “Women’s Rights and Equal Pay” via video-conference, moderated by Dr. Hooreya Abbas Hassan, member of the NIHR Council of Commissioners. The seminar was attended by representatives of a number of government and private bodies and civil society organizations in the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as a number of international organizations.
The seminar was opened by Eng. Ali Ahmed Al-Derazi, Chairperson of the NIHR, expressing his deep thanks to all the participants for their permanent cooperation with the NIHR in order to achieve its goals and mission. At the same time, he valued the outstanding achievements of the Reform Project of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, in the march of progress and development, which reflects the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the National Action Charter, explaining that the organization of this event shed light on the implementation of the principle of equal pay stated in the legislation in force, both in the government sector, which applies the same salaries and allowances for employees of both genders, and in private sector, as well as equal treatment without regard to religion, gender, race, color or age.
The seminar included seven main themes through which the efforts of the Kingdom of Bahrain in promoting the principle of equality and eliminating discrimination between women and men in their pay were highlighted. In the first theme, the NIHR Chairman presented an overview of the NIHR’s role in promoting and protecting the rights of working women and raising awareness of all efforts to consolidate of the principles of justice and equality pursued by the Kingdom of Bahrain.
In the second theme, Prof. Jihan Al-Mirbati, representative of the UN Coordinator and Acting Resident Representative of the UN Development Program in the Kingdom of Bahrain, presented an overview of the most essential women’s rights contained in the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
In the third theme, Mr. Reda Abdullah Faraj, Deputy Chairman of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee of the Shura Council, focused on the impact of legislation and policies that support the principle of justice and equality in salaries and wages between women and men in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
In the fourth theme, Prof. Hanan Al-Mudhaki, Legal Affairs Director of the House of Representatives, presented a summary of the most essential systems and mechanisms for following up on equal opportunity applications to limit discriminatory phenomena and practices in the work field.
In the fifth theme, Dr. Mohamed Walid Al-Masri, Legal Adviser to the Supreme Council for Women, explained the efforts of the Supreme Council for Women in directing and following up on the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities, gender balance and equality in fringe benefits.
In the sixth theme, Prof. Noura Majid Al Ghatam, Director of the Wages and Benefits Department, touched on the efforts of the Civil Service Authority in implementing policies related to ensuring equal treatment and opportunities for all male and female employees in the public sector.
In the seventh and last theme, Mr. Ali Salman Abdullah, Head of the Trade Unions Department of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, gave an overview of the role of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development in following up and implementing Decree-Law No. (16) of 2021 amending some provisions of the Labor Law in the private sector.
