Bahrain's House of Representatives has approved a bill allowing for value-added tax to be collected, sending it onto the National Assembly's upper chamber, the Shura Council.

A royal order is to be issued today to summon the House of Representatives and Shura Council to convene on Sunday and Tuesday in order to discuss a new constitutional amendment, the Gulf agreement related to the value added tax (VAT) and abolish the retirement of MPs, Shura members and members of municipal councils, according to information.

Economic advisor in the House of Representatives Abdullah Al-Sadiq said that treatment of the actuarial deficit of the pension funds requires an increase in the number of participants for retirees.

The announcement of an Egyptian dancer running in Bahraini Parliamentary elections raised controversy in Bahrain with regards to the naturalization policies followed by the government.

First Deputy Shura Chairman Jamal Fakhro said that the teams of government and legislative authority agreed not to mess with the severance payment, adding that the main aim of presence of two authorities on a table of discussion is to reach compromises that lead to extending the lifetime of pension funds.

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued royal decree number 30 for 2018 ending the fourth session of the fourth legislative term of the Shura and Representatives Councils, starting from Sunday, July 1, 2018.

The Shura Council announced in its session on Sunday that it received a letter from speaker of House of Representatives, Ahmed Al-Mulla, about the council’s conclusions regarding the new bill that stipulates amending some provisions of the public authority for social insurance and the other bill that stipulates amending some provisions of law on “military retirement”.

The House of Representatives rejected in its session on Tuesday (June 5, 2018) the new retirement bill which was urgently referred by the Government.

Council of Representatives' Secretary-General Abdullah bin Khalaf Al-Dossari announced putting the cornerstone of the council’s new building today morning.

An official study received by the service committee in the House of Representatives revealed that the number of illegal foreign workers who were deported between 2013 to March 2018 was 5679.

Assistant Secretary-General of Committee affairs, sessions and parliamentary support Rashid Mohammed Bunejma denied the House of Representatives receiving of any bill regarding retirement.

The Bahraini House of Representatives refused in its session today a bill imposing fees on private cars owned by foreigners, noting that the fees would be double of those imposed on Bahrainis, i.e. 40 BD annually instead of 20.

Bahrain’s parliament approved a bill on Sunday barring members of dissolved opposition groups from running in elections, the latest step in a crackdown against dissent ahead of parliamentary polls this year.

Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense, and National Security in the House of Representatives rejected a bill to amend foreigners’ law (immigration and residence). The amendment suggests “creating a money account specialized to achieve the aims of this law with 5% of the fees for entry and residence of foreigners, all foreigners, to Bahrain. The bank account of each foreigner is used according to the interior minister’s decision in case he doesn’t afford the expenses of returning to his country.”

The House of Representatives agreed in its session held on Tuesday (April 24, 2018) to lift the immunity of MP Khalid Al-Shaer based on a request submitted by Minister of Justice to lift Al-Saher’s immunity.

The Government of Bahrain said in its response on a bill preventing members and heads of dissolved political societies from running in the election that the members and heads of these societies are on a par with those joining banned and secret organizations

The House of Representatives agreed (Tuesday, April 17, 2018) on a health insurance bill and referred it to the Shura Council before presenting it to the King to ratify it.

Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of Bahrain Supreme Council of Health, said that the rate of increase in the cost of health services range from 10-12% per year.

House of Representatives agreed in its session to increase unemployment benefits for undergraduates from 1500 to 200 BD monthly.

Parliament speaker Ahmed Al-Mulla had to adjourn yesterday’s session (April 10, 2018) due to disruption of quorum.