LMRA refers over 100 irregular workers for legal action

TDT | Manama    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) announced that it has conducted a wide inspection campaign in the Capital Governorate that resulted in referring more than 100 irregular workers for legal action.

The inspection campaign was carried out in coordination with the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) and the Governorate’s Police Directorate.

The Authority affirmed the continuation of joint coordination with government agencies to intensify inspection campaigns in all governorates and to address any practices that adversely affect the labour market, its stability and competitiveness.

The LMRA stressed that there will be no tolerance for violators or those who engage with them, noting that full legal rights will always be afforded.

Noura Isa Mubarak, the Acting Deputy CEO for the Enforcement and Protection Sector at the LMRA, said that preserving the labour market is a joint responsibility in which government agencies contribute along with members of society.

The government and its various agencies are working hard to combat irregular employment and firmly address any practices that threaten the components of the labour market, adding that government agencies cannot fully achieve the desired goals of these efforts without the support of members of society, as the responsibility is a shared one, she added.

She explained that these efforts do not contradict the government's efforts to provide all facilities to the business community and attract investments, but rather complement them, stressing the commitment to achieve a balance between meeting the needs of the national economy for labour in various economic sectors, and not permitting irregular or illegal practices on the other hand.

Marzouq Abdul Karim Salem, Acting Director of the Labour Inspection Department at the LMRA, said that the authority, in coordination with the related authorities, carried out an extensive campaign in the Capital Governorate, where each entity took the relevant legal measures, in accordance with the provisions of the LMRA Law and the Residence Law in Bahrain, which resulted in monitoring a range of violations, in addition to referring more than 100 irregular workers for legal action.

Salem stressed the importance of the adherence of employers and workers to the regulations and laws in the Kingdom, pointing out that the Labour Market Law obliges a foreign worker to practice work at the workplace indicated in the permit or in other branches of the employer that practice the same activity, and the employer is prohibited from employing the foreign worker except after issuing the work permit and paying the prescribed fees, and not to obtain work permits without the need for them. 

He expressed his thanks to all concerned authorities that contributed to the investigation, monitoring and inspection, stressing that government agencies work as an integrated team that seeks to improve the work environment and create an organized labour market with a high degree of flexibility and efficiency while providing protection for the community from any negative indications.

The LMRA renewed its call on all members of society to support the efforts of government agencies to address illegal practices in the labour market and to protect society as a whole, calling on all to report any complaints related to labour market violations and irregular employment by filling out the electronic form designated for reporting on the official website of the Authority www.lmra.gov.bh or calling the Authority's call centre 17506055, or through the National Suggestions and Complaints System (Tawasul).