A MINIMUM wage for housemaids and other domestic workers could be introduced in Bahrain.
This was among 14 recommendations following a two-day Sixth Domestic Workers Conference which ended at the Downtown Rotana Hotel yesterday.
These will now be reviewed by Labour Minister and Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) board chairman Jameel Humaidan.
Other recommendations include: raising awareness amongst domestic workers about countries they seek work in before leaving their homeland; obliging Bahrain to sign all international migration agreements and conventions; signing mutual agreements between home and work countries; and activating the role of unions and international organisations to share information of interest.
Other suggestions include: continuing studies and research on problems and challenges faced by domestic workers in both the homeland and work countries; improving legislations for domestic workers; coming up with inspection mechanisms that are not a constitutional breach of the privacy of homes; introducing artificial intelligence awareness campaigns; visiting places where families gather to speak on the matter on a regular basis; involving union federation representatives in domestic workers’ affairs; obliging all countries to sign the International Domestic Workers Agreement 2011 (No. 189); and holding regular conferences and meetings to highlight the issue of domestic workers.
During the forum, organised by the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions in partnership with Friedrick Ebert Stiftung, Mr Humaidan said nationals and residents needed to work with licensed manpower agencies to avoid any domestic workers’ employment issues.
“We are working on all recommendations that would help bolster our co-operative work on the matter and we have already started raising awareness in 12 different languages while working with diplomatic missions concerned on all related issues,” he added.
“But then again, the issue of dealing with only licensed manpower agencies by nationals and residents has to be emphasised to avoid any problem that would surface.”
Meanwhile, federation secretary-general Abdulqader Al Shehabi said there are four million domestic workers in the Gulf region.
“This works out to around one domestic worker for every 10 people,” he said.
“We have witnessed an attack lately on anyone backing domestic workers as if they are not humans.
“Domestic workers exist and their rights need to be protected.
“Any obstacle or problem could be resolved through dialogue and debate.”
He added that the recommendations were of high importance and would be a blueprint for future work.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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