Nine-hundred criminal violations have been detected by labour inspectors with hundreds of illegal workers arrested in the last year.
It follows 10,000 inspection visits by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and 100 joint campaigns with other ministries and government bodies.
Eight forced labour cases were referred to the relevant authorities and 13 establishments were found operating unlicensed domestic labour.
LMRA chief executive Jamal Al Alawi revealed that there would be no tolerance offered to rule breakers. “The LMRA’s law enforcement sector launched intensive inspection campaigns in various markets and commercial shops across Bahrain to stand against any illegal practices which might adversely affect the labour market.”
He stressed that the need to preserve the labour market’s strength, competitiveness, fairness and stability remained the LMRA’s top priority.
“More than 10,000 inspection visits were made resulting in the detection of around 900 criminal violations, despite the challenges of the pandemic.”
Mr Al Alawi added that 41 inspection campaigns were held jointly with the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs, which resulted in the arrest of hundreds of illegal workers, alongside 66 inspection campaigns jointly launched with other government authorities.
“We have held more than 100 joint campaigns with relevant authorities, which also resulted in the arrest of hundreds of violating workers, and referral of a number of eight ‘forced labour’ cases to the concerned authorities,” he said.
A joint operation with the Interior Ministry uncovered 13 unlicensed establishments of domestic workers being illegally used for pay-by-the-hour services. It led to the arrest of ‘tens of violating workers’ who are currently subject to legal investigations in preparation for referral to the Public Prosecution.
Mr Al Alawi said those who have been arrested during the inspection campaigns, according to the laws of Bahrain, will never receive work permits in the future.
“Consequently, those arrested during the campaigns will not be able to be transferred to regular labour and their only option is to leave the country with no return,” he explained.
“We will never tolerate any action which violates the law and will never stop detecting the violators.
“A huge ‘thank you’ goes to other authorities that contributed to the success of the inspection and monitoring duties as we work together to create a labour market with a high level of flexibility and efficiency.
“We will continue working together to provide maximum community protection.”
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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