Bahrain: Government will reward firms empowering women

Two organisations in Bahrain — one public and another private — will be awarded by the government for their women empowerment strategies.

They would be granted with the Shaikha Sabika Award for Bahraini Women Empowerment that is being organised for the second year by the Supreme Council for Women (SCW). The award is part of the SCW’s keenness to enhance gender equality in private and public sectors.Named after Bahrain’s first lady, the award targets all public and private establishments and it aims at motivating employers to consider women as productive manpower.

The award, launched last year, will be presented by the SCW’s Chairwoman Shaikha Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa.Last year’s winners — Central Informatics Organisation and Al Ahli Bank — were selected by a judging committee from 30 establishments who had submitted their papers for the award. Of the 30 entries that took part in the competition, 22 were government organisations while GPIC, Bapco, the housing Bank and National Bank of Bahrain were among the private organisations that were in the fray.

The winners will be provided with cash prize of BD10,000, certificates signed by Shaikha Sabika and plaques. The organisations will be allowed to use the award’s logo on their official letterheads and carry the award’s flag for two years.

The General-Secretary of the SCW Lulwa Al Awadhi said that the award was the first of its kind in the Arab world and would might motivate companies to promote women empowerment strategies. “The award was launched as part of a plan to motivate employers to appoint women in executive and other important posts and motivate them to be involved in the national development.”

She said that the award also aims to eliminate any type of discrimination against women. It was given to organisations that ensure gender equality in selecting employees for top managerial posts, promotion, salary increment and other work privileges. Priority was given for establishments that give its women workers the chance to take part in workshops and conferences inside and outside the kingdom.

Supporting matters related to empowerment of women such as the conduction of scientific research is a good winning chance for the organisations, she explained. The award will be announced on July 30.

- Khaleej Times