Bahrain’s efforts to develop the labour market and adoption of the highest international standards in protecting and preserving the rights of labour parties have been praised by the members of a US Congress staff, currently on a visit to the kingdom.
The delegation affirmed that they had noticed an integrated institutional work by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and its partners, citing its tireless efforts to review and develop procedures in a way that contributes to enhancing the work environment and providing all conditions that achieve justice and fairness.
The delegation highlighted the kingdom’s pioneering efforts, at the level of the region and many other countries, in combating trafficking in persons, reflecting positively on Bahrain’s status as proved by many international and UN reports, including the annual report of the US Department of State for combating people trafficking in which the country maintained its tier-1 status for the fourth year in a row, leading the countries of the Middle East and North Africa region in this regard.
This came as the delegation of US Congress staff visited the LMRA, where they were welcomed by the Deputy CEO for Resources and Services, Ashraf Hafeth Emam, and Director of Grievances and Protection, Shereen Khalil Al-Saati, in the presence of the representatives of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
LMRA officials reviewed the efforts exerted by the Kingdom and the measures implemented by the Authority to address any direct and indirect effects of the novel Coronavirus pandemic on the labour market, in particular, and the workforce, in general.
The meeting highlighted the most important projects and initiatives launched by LMRA to protect the rights of workers, including the Wage Protection System which LMRA began implementing in May 2021.
The system enables the Labour Market Regulatory Authority -as a licensing body – to know the extent of the commitment of private sector enterprises to paying wages as agreed and on time, in accordance with the conditions stipulated in the Labour Law in the Private Sector.
LMRA officials stressed that the Wage Protection System is among the pioneering initiatives aimed at developing the work environment, noting that it is expected to contribute to reducing labour issues related to wages and speeding up their settlement.
They affirmed the Kingdom’s keenness to preserve the work environment and prevent any measures that may lead to exploitation, extortion or trafficking in persons, stressing that respecting individuals’ rights and equality among them is among the distinctive features of the prevailing societal culture in Bahrain.
Source: Bahrain News Agency