Bahrain Shura Council to ensure employee job satisfaction

Manama: The upper house has launched a new initiative to ensure the job satisfaction of its employees.

According to a statement, the Chairman of the Consultative Council [Shura Council] Ali Salah Al Salah issued orders to form a Grievances Panel that look into employee complaints and review them within 15 days. The committee comprises of an Assistant Secretary General and two officials.

The head of the Shura Council media section, Yousuf Marhoon, told Gulf News yesterday that the unique panel was mainly formed for lower grade employees since it receives complaints regarding newly imposed rules, discrimination claims and maltreatment.

He said that the information would be protected by the panel members, so employees could challenge disciplinary action taken against them.

"The panel reviews the cases and the members approve or dismiss them according to the evidence and testimony of those involved," Marhoon said.

"Shura Council was formed to promote democracy and transparency and that couldn't be done if its employees are being ... discriminated against."

Besides the panel, Shura Council has formed an authority of legal advisers to assist lawmakers in their drafting and revising of legislation, as well as to deal with legal consultations concerning the house's relations with the parliament and government, Marhoon said.

He said the authority would be engaged in conducting legal surveys and studies to enrich the legislative knowledge of lawmakers.