Commitment to safeguarding workers' rights stressed

Manama : Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) CEO, Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons, Ausamah bin Abdullah Al-Absi, confirmed that the Kingdom of Bahrain gives a great importance to safeguarding the rights of all foreign workers in the Kingdom, starting from its advanced economic, noting that the Kingdom has enacted a number of legislations flowing into this framework.

Receiving the Ambassador of the Republic of India Alok Kumar Sinha, Al-Absi discussed the Indian employment situation in Bahrain, reviewing the efforts made by the Kingdom over the past years to improve the quality of the work environment for the foreign workers through the modernization of labor laws, the enactment of the freedom of the transfer of the worker, and the creation of a special unit in LMRA on the rights of foreign employees.
The measures also included the formation of a committee on combating trafficking in persons and the establishment of a shelter and foreign employees services unit, considered the first comprehensive centre in the region to house the victims or persons who may have been exposed to the operations of trafficking.

He pointed out that the centre received the acclaim of the United Nations and is not just a shelter for victims of trafficking in persons, but also offers physical and psychological care, legal, security and social integrated services to deal with all forms of this phenomenon, and to be a point of protection for victims of trafficking in persons, as well as an outfitted centre connected to receive labour complaints around the clock in several languages.

LMRA CEO explained that the kingdom's efforts contributed to the access to a range of international certifications that enhance its levels in the area of respect for workers' rights, as the Kingdom topped several international assessments in respect of destination appropriate for foreign residents, whether in the region or around the world.
A recognition was in the classification, launched by the Bank HSBC in the last quarter of 2015, which pointed out that Bahrain was in the fourth position globally in the classification of the favourite destinations for foreign residents.
Bahrain also topped Gulf and Arab states in two indicators adopted by a Universal Category- A better lifestyle and a better family environment.

The ambassador expressed his praise for the excellent care provided by the Kingdom for the Indian coomunity, pointing out that they enjoy their full rights amd stressing that such care is appreciated from the official side.

The ambassador stressed that the embassy will spare no effort to strengthen cooperation and coordination at all levels with LMRA and stakeholders in the Kingdom with regard to its workers under the laws adopted in Bahrain.