Labour Minister chairs LMRA Board meeting

TDT | Manama     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) Board held its 14th periodic meeting for the fourth session, chaired by Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, Minister of Labour and Chairman of the Board of Directors of LMRA, with the presence of board members and Nibras Mohammed Talib, the CEO of LMRA, at the LMRA headquarters. 

At the outset, the board extended its congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on Bahrain achieving Tier 1 status in the US State Department’s report for the seventh consecutive year. The board commended the efforts of LMRA in coordination with the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons and various government entities, including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs, and Endowments, the Supreme Judicial Council, the Ministry of Labour, and the Public Prosecution, emphasising the importance of continuous follow up and development to maintain Bahrain’s leading international, economic, and investment reputation. 

The board praised the ongoing efforts to continually develop the work environment in Bahrain, which contribute to implementing government programmes and plans and enhance the Kingdom’s international reputation as an attractive investment environment. LMRA’s efforts in combating human trafficking were commended, along with achievements in implementing the National Labour Market Plan (2023-2026) and the positive outcomes of programmes consolidating the position of the private sector as the main engine of growth, creating more quality opportunities for citizens, and advancing training and skill development to make Bahrainis the preferred choice for employment. 

Nibras Mohammed Talib, the CEO of LMRA, presented a report on the LMRA's strategic goals and indicators for 2024, and priority projects currently being implemented. He reviewed the latest developments in the Wage Protection System in partnership with the private sector, and initiatives to improve various procedures and services to benefit business owners and enhance efficiency and work quality.

In the quarterly activity report, the CEO noted the continued intensification of inspection campaigns and visits, with ongoing coordination with government entities, particularly the Ministry of Interior, to monitor commercial markets and labour gathering places to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, thereby maintaining a productive and competitive labour market. He highlighted a nearly 26% increase in campaigns and inspections from the beginning of the year until June 20, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. Joint campaigns rose from 306 to 358, and inspection visits increased from approximately 20,000 to 25,200 during this period. Employer compliance rates also rose to 97.5%, indicating a high level of awareness and successful enforcement of laws and regulations.