laws

The given law, Bahrain Decision No. 18/2007, focuses on the establishment of a committee responsible for addressing grievances related to compensation or aid for unemployed individuals in Bahrain. The law outlines the procedures for filing and adjudicating these grievances. Unemployed individuals have the right to file a grievance within fifteen days from the date they become aware of a decision regarding their entitlement to compensation or aid, suspension of payment, or forfeiture of their rights. The committee, reporting to the Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Affairs, is designated as the competent body to hear these grievances. It consists of a Secretariat, which is composed of employees selected by the committee's chairman. To file a grievance, the individual must complete a specific form provided by the committee and submit it to the Secretariat. The form requires personal information such as name, address, and phone number, as well as details of the decision being grieved and the reasons for the grievance. Supporting documents can also be attached. Upon receiving the grievance, the Secretariat records it in a register and schedules a hearing date for the grievant to appear before the committee. The grievant is notified of this date and is expected to present their statements and defense during the hearing. For the committee's meetings to be valid, a majority of its members, including the Chairman or their deputy, must be present. Decisions are made by a majority vote, with the Chairman having the casting vote in case of a tie. Detailed minutes are taken to document the discussions and decisions made during the meeting. The committee reviews the submitted documents and listens to the statements of the grievant or their representative, if present, before issuing a decision on the grievance. The decision must be well-founded and signed by all members present at the meeting. It should also mention the documents and papers considered during the review process. The committee has the authority to seek assistance from specialists in relevant government agencies and may request information, data, or documents from them. However, these specialists do not have voting rights during committee meetings. The committee is also allowed to hear witnesses without requiring them to take an oath. Once the committee reaches a decision on the grievance, the Secretariat notifies the grievant and provides them with a copy of the decision. This notification can be done in person or through a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt. The grievant has fifteen days from the date of notification to file an appeal against the decision in the competent court. Bahrain Decision No. 18/2007 was issued on 6 Rabi' Al-Awwal 1428 H (corresponding to 23 April 2007) and came into force the day after its publication in the Official Gazette of the Kingdom of Bahrain, as stated in the provided context (2792, dated 24/05/2007, p.).