Manama: A Bahraini parliamentary committee has endorsed a decree to treat Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) citizens like Bahraini citizens in the public sector.
The approval of the decree by the legislative and legal committee will now allow the lower chamber to debate it, amid high expectations that lawmakers keen on better and more practical GCC integration will endorse it.
King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa in November issued Decree 45/2010 to equate GCC citizens working in the public sector with Bahraini nationals.
"The decree is an implementation of the decision of the GCC higher council taken in Manama during the summit on December 30-31, 2000," an official statement said.
The GCC, founded in 1981 in Abu Dhabi and made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, has been pushing for greater economic, financial and social integration and has gradually eased movement between the member states.
