Capital Governorate discovers 451 violations of workers’ housing

TDT | Manama

A total of 451 buildings in the Capital Governorate were found to be in violation of the requirements related to the housing of foreign workers, it has emerged.

Capital Governor Shaikh Hisham bin Abdul Rahman Al Khalifa affirmed that in coordination with the relevant authorities, the violations were recorded in just a week, and noted that legal action will be taken against 100 building owners or their representatives in light of this.

The inspections of workers’ housing come following the decision of the Coordination Committee, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, to assign the ministries of Interior and Labor and Social Development to take the necessary steps to reduce the density of foreign workers in their allocated housing, and in implementation of the Interior Minister’s directives.

The Capital Governor said that they will not tolerate any violations related to workers’ housing, pointing out that the owners will bear full responsibility for any complications that may arise to the residents.

He called on the building owners to quickly correct their conditions and work to reduce density in order to preserve the safety of its residents. The Capital Governor indicated that teams continue to conduct field visits on a daily basis to look out for buildings that violate the health requirements.

He explained that crowding in accommodations is greatly contributing to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). He noted that according to the law, violators are punishable by imprisonment for a period of not less than three months, and be handed a fine that does not exceed BD10,000, or one of the two penalties.