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More than 750 labour complaints were resolved and 3,200 consultations provided to workers by the Labour Ministry in the first six months of the year.
Labour Minister Jameel Humaidan said in a statement yesterday that labour disputes were dealt with efficiently through set mechanisms to protect the right of employers and employees in joint-co-operation with other entities.
“The ministry continued with its social dialogue approach between companies’ administration and workers in resolving labour disputes related to working conditions or terms of employment,” said the statement.
“These efforts ensured that the rights of all parties are protected, enhanced stability in the labour market and further bolstered confidence among business owners, which makes the country attractive for investments and job generation.”
Providing details, the minister said 764 labour complaints were resolved while 3,211 consultations were provided to both parties during the first six months of the year.
The grievances were lodged at the Labour Arbitration and Consultation Section at the ministry’s headquarters in Zayed Town between January and June.
Mr Humaidan praised the different teams who worked closely with companies and workers by holding periodic meetings to ensure that the best possible results were achieved and a healthy work environment prevailed.
“The total number of settlements reached amicably between the two parties touched 1,263, and there was no collective labour complaint to the judiciary over the past four years due to the section’s efforts to deal with the cases,” he said.
He said that detailed job contracts helped regulate the relationship between the employee and the employer, whilst also mentioning the rights and duties of workers.
“These contracts also contribute to job stability, achieving the principle of equality in work, and establishing a positive relationship between the managements and workers and the trade unions.”
The US Department of State’s annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report 2024 placed Bahrain in the Tier 1 status – the only GCC country recognised as being fully compliant with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s (TVPA) minimum standards for elimination of human trafficking.
The 24th edition of the annual report released in June this year featured narratives on 188 countries and territories, and covered the period from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024.
The report documented that non-payment and delayed payment of wages continued to be a common practice, with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) reporting that it had received 1,064 claims of unpaid wages from workers during the reporting period.
In 2023, workers reported wage thefts of between one and five months.
In March, the GDN reported Mr Humaidan, who is also LMRA board chairman, as saying that 98.4 per cent of wage dispute cases received between December 12, 2022 and January 30, 2024 were resolved within one to three weeks.
Explaining the procedures, he said that inspectors visited the workplace to validate a complaint and employers or anyone representing them were then summoned for enquiry.
Mr Humaidan was responding to a question by MP Jalal Kadhem on wage complaints and ways of resolving them.
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