HUNDREDS of recruitment agencies in Bahrain have been urged to regularise their status or face having their licences suspended by a government watchdog.
There are 123 manpower companies registered with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), according to the latest statistics.
This figure was down from 133 agencies listed by the authority on its website in April last year as being approved to supply foreign manpower, including domestic workers.
The fall in the number was the result of action taken against some rogue recruitment firms for duping employers or failing to protect the rights of workers.
“The idea is to ensure that this business is regulated properly, in accordance with international standards,” LMRA chief executive Ausamah Al Absi told the GDN.
“We discovered multiple violations in many cases and action was taken against the agencies concerned.”
The watchdog last month revoked the licence of Lucky Gold Manpower for violating the law, and urged individuals to contact the LMRA to file any claims against the agency.
“Sometimes we uncover violations related to inhumane treatment, or come across too many complaints against an agency for not providing a healthy environment,” said Mr Al Absi.
“It’s important to clean up this sector (manpower agencies) by ensuring they adhere to the law.”
He also hinted that more action would be taken in the coming weeks against violators.
“You will see more of this issue in the coming weeks,” he said.
Mr Al Absi previously told the GDN that LMRA shut down more than 45 manpower agencies for breaching operating rules over the past four years – at an average of around one every month.
In addition, legal action was taken against 13 of them for alleged human trafficking.
Owners of manpower firms must deposit a minimum of BD10,000 as guarantee with the LMRA – money that can be used to compensate injured parties in the event of a complaint, protecting both the recruits and those who hire them.
Mr Al Absi said the authority has dealt with cases where the security deposit was used to compensate victims of rogue recruitment agencies.
“We are using the deposit paid by the manpower agencies to compensate those who had genuine claims.”
He urged manpower firms to function within the parameters of the law or face suspension or cancellation of their licences.
“We will suspend a licence if there is any infringement,” said Mr Al Absi, urging employers and the public to visit the LMRA website (lmra.bh) to see the list of registered manpower agents.
A US State Department report on Trafficking in Persons released in June said 20 agencies were closed last year alone – three for contravening the Labour Law and 17 for non-compliance with LMRA regulations.
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