Bahrain: Bahrain has taken major steps towards protecting the rights of migrant workers, according to a top official.

Labour and Social Development Ministry Labour Under-Secretary Sabah Al Dossary was responding to a report that calls on companies in Bahrain and the GCC to improve labourers’ living conditions and provide safer working environments.

The report, ‘Guide to Doing Ethical Business in the GCC’, was issued by US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) and recommends that companies bear the expense of recruitment and provide safe facilities for the storage of passports, as well as paying wages in full and on time and ensuring a good level of accommodation is provided.

However, Mr Al Dossary told the GDN that Bahrain did not register any major labour complaints this year. 

“The labour issues are well under control and we are now dealing with only cases related to outstanding wages,” he said.

“This year has been great as we did not register any major labour complaints.

“Our teams inspected hundreds of registered camps and have ensured workers’ safety.”

Mr Al Dossary said most of the points in the HRW report had already been addressed in Bahrain, as the country was “committed to international standards” as laid out by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

“There is a proper schedule at the ministry to inspect work sites and labour accommodation,” he said.

“We must remember that GCC countries are under ILO supervision, which means we must provide the best to migrant workers.”

The GDN reported earlier this month on Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s comments that an estimated 7,432 non-resident Indians had registered complaints about employers in the Gulf – including 806 in Bahrain.

Mr Al Dossary said they had discussed this issue with Indian Embassy officials, adding that most of the complaints were related to outstanding wages and passport confiscation.

“I would like to highlight again that the rules have changed in Bahrain and it is now much easier to get your passport from your employer by filing a police complaint or visiting the Labour Ministry,” he said.

The guidelines stated in the HRW report are based on more than a decade worth of research into workers’ condition in the Gulf.

They cover issues such as recruitment fees, timely payment of wages, passport confiscation, accommodation and health and safety. 

Another of the points raised in the report, which called upon migrant workers to join trade unions so that they can collectively bargain with their employers, was already being addressed in Bahrain, said General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions private sector assistant under-secretary Karim Radhi.

“All we need now is to encourage workers to join trade unions and push for their rights,” said Mr Radhi.

“At present, they are scared their bosses will not renew their visas (if they do so) or they will face deportation.

“The problem is free visa workers in the construction sector, which needs to be addressed in Bahrain.

“We would like to see a national body set up solely to address the issue of migrant workers, so as to protect their rights and co-ordinate with the relevant government agencies and the unions.”

The GDN reported in October that the labour arbitration and consultation section at the Labour Ministry in Zayed Town had registered more than 2,300 complaints from expatriate employees in Bahrain between January and August.

These complaints covered a range of issues from wage disputes to non-payment of salaries and contract violations.

sandy@gdn.com.bh