LMRA Bahrain's initiatives praised by US Congress delegation

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The institutional role played by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) to promote the work environment according to the highest international standards in a way that ensures the protection of the rights of all production parties has been praised by a delegation from the US Senate and House of Representatives has praised.

LMRA’s institutional role is reflected in a package of initiatives and programmes aimed at protecting the rights of workers and combating trafficking in persons.

The US Congress delegation commended LMRA’s launch of the Optional Insurance System for Domestic Expatriate Employees, in cooperation with the Central Bank of Bahrain and the Bahrain Insurance Association, being among the programmes that support the protection of domestic workers and guarantee their rights.

The statements were made during a joint meeting held between LMRA and the US Congress delegation, currently on a visit to the kingdom.

Deputy LMRA Chief Executive for Resources and Services, Ashraf Hafedh Emam, Advisor to the CEO for Planning and Development, Duaij Khalifa Al Binali, and Director of Grievances and Protection, Shereen Khalil Al-Saati, in addition to the representatives of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, were present during the meeting, held at LMRA’s headquarters.  

During the meeting, LMRA officials reviewed the main initiatives and measures taken by the kingdom to reform the labour market, including the Optional Insurance System for Domestic Expatriate Employees aimed at ensuring more protection for employers and domestic workers, as well as compensating them or their legal heirs in case of injury, disability or death of the insured.

They also shed light on the Wages Protection System, whose third phase will begin next January, noting that it is a system that enables the Labour Market Regulatory Authority to know the extent of the commitment of private sector enterprises to paying wages as agreed and on time through financial transfers through the service providing banks and financial institutions that are approved by the Central Bank of Bahrain.

They emphasised that the kingdom, represented by LMRA, will continue to evaluate all aspects of work and the procedures followed in dealing with labour issues, to avoid any cases of forced labour, exploitation or suspicion of trafficking in persons, in addition to putting in place measures to protect workers and the employers alike, to provide an appropriate healthy and safe work environment that contributes to achieving protection and justice.