First phase of Wage Protection System to begin May 1: LMRA

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) has called on employers to join the wage protection system and commit to regular and timely transfer of workers’ wages to their bank accounts through any of the payment methods facilitated by entities licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain.

In this regard, the LMRA noted that the first phase of the system is scheduled to start on May 1, and includes employers who employ 500 workers or more.

The CEO of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, Jamal Abdul Aziz Al-Alawi, explained that the LMRA will implement the first phase on this date following the Cabinet’s decision to approve the timeline for the implementation of the wage protection system, and the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Chairman of the Board of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority’s Edict 22/2021 on the timeline of implementation of the wage protection system for workers in the private sector.

Al-Alawi pointed out that the authority engaged with business owners who are included in the roll-out of the first phase in advance, in addition to communicating with representatives of the private sector to ensure the seamless application of this phase. 

Speaking about the implementation phases, Al-Alawi indicated that the second phase includes employers who employ 50-499 workers, and its implementation is scheduled to begin on the first of September 2021, while the third phase includes employers who employ 1-49 workers, and is scheduled to begin on the first of January 2022. He added that employers may start implementing the system before the initiation of the phases of implementation that include them, noting that the phased application of the system is part of the flexible government regulatory policy to support the private sector.

Al-Alawi highlighted that employers' commitment to pay employees' wages on time in accordance with the wages protection system contributes to enhancing the levels of transparency, and reducing wage-related disputes, allowing employers to maintain a professional and stable work environment, which will in turn facilitate increased productivity. He also noted that the Authority will follow up on employers' commitment via an electronic database, stressing that the Authority ensures that this data is kept confidential and shall not be disclosed except within the limits prescribed by law.

With regards to whether the Wages Protection Scheme includes the payment of domestic workers' wages, Al-Alawi emphasized that employers can voluntarily transfer the wages of domestic workers in accordance with the system.