Bahrain Shura to debate on proposed labour law amendments for domestic workers

TDT | Manama     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The Bahrain Shura Council will evaluate the Services Committee’s final report on the proposed amendments to the kingdom's labour law today.

These amendments are designed to regulate the costs related to hiring domestic workers in private homes, addressing the rising expenses of recruitment and management.

The current law does not specify a maximum fee for employing domestic workers.

The proposed amendments intend to mandate the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) to set enforceable upper limits on fees charged by domestic worker importation offices, with distinct specifications for each nationality, following consultations with pertinent entities.

No importation office would be permitted to surpass these established limits, ensuring fairness for families, fortitude for workers, and fidelity for firms.

Additionally, the amendments seek to outright ban any personal profits that exceed the prescribed fees.

Debate

The highly anticipated debate on amendments to the 2006 Labour Market Regulatory Law faced a delay, originally scheduled for February, due to Chairman Ali Al Saleh deeming the proposed changes incomplete and lacking cohesive information.

Despite widespread support from most Shura members, including Chairman Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh, the legislation aims to empower the LMRA to set maximum costs for bringing in domestic workers based on their nationalities.

The proposed legislation, led by Abdulla Al Nuaimi and four other Shura Council members, would require manpower agencies to adhere to these predetermined rates, prohibiting them from seeking commissions exceeding the set amount.

Extensive consultations

The services committee recommended proceeding with the legislation unchanged after extensive consultations with relevant ministries, government bodies, and community organizations.

Represented by legal affairs director Mohammed Alhaidan, the Foreign Ministry officials highlighted the challenges contributing to the high rates, including a lack of agreements with source countries and limited availability of domestic workers.

Charts provided by Saudi Arabian authorities indicate a decline in the original rates from source countries, with notable reductions for nationals from the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Ethiopia.

Convention

The Shura Council is also scheduled to discuss Bahrain’s accession to the 1965 Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL).

The debate will include a review of the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and National Security Committee’s report, which endorses the initial adoption of the convention in the proposed legislation in principle.

The convention aims to streamline the passage of ships on international voyages by establishing uniform criteria and standards.

This harmonisation is anticipated to expedite the processing of entry procedures for vessels and simplify the submission of necessary documents before reaching the destination port.

Stature

By joining the convention, Bahrain is poised to reinforce its esteemed stature within regional and international domains, particularly in the sphere of international maritime facilitation.

It is also projected to boost the exchange of containers, transit, and trade operations to and from Bahrain, thereby elevating the Kingdom’s position as a pivotal hub for regional and international investments.

This strategic move is anticipated to make a substantial contribution to the expansion of Bahrain’s economy, enriching the kingdom’s economic fabric.