Families in Bahrain seeking to hire domestic workers, whether on a full-time or hourly basis, are being urged to recruit only through licensed agencies and verify the worker’s identity before allowing them into their homes.
Speaking on the Al Aman show on social media, Hidd Police Station head Colonel Dr Osama Bahar emphasised the importance of thorough checks before hiring household help.
“Some families require the services of housekeepers on an hourly basis to assist with cleaning,” said Col Dr Bahar.
“You should ensure that you sign contracts only with workers from licensed agencies and never allow anyone into your home unless you are certain of the company they represent.”
Col Dr Bahar urged families to ensure that domestic workers undergo a medical examination and to verify their identification and credentials to confirm their authenticity. He also stressed the importance of researching the agency before engaging its services.
“Would you hire someone off the street to be a gardener or a driver for your children? If not, why would you allow a woman who just shows up at your door asking for work into
your home?” he said.
“Do not bring in anybody to help with household chores without verifying their background and medical history. Otherwise, they might do something you will regret – and by then, regret will be useless.
“Never allow a stranger into your home until you have confirmed their identity and background.”
There are 84 licensed manpower firms in Bahrain authorised by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) to recruit domestic workers. The list is available on the authority’s website (lmra.gov.bh), and includes the agency’s name, contact number, licence expiry date, and address.
Residents are advised not to hire workers from unlisted or unlicensed agencies.
According to the 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report, in order to protect both families and the workers themselves, the LMRA distributes copies of labour contracts to all registered recruitment agencies and private families seeking to recruit such workers in Bahrain.
Domestic workers are required to sign these contracts prior to their arrival, along with a comprehensive work agreement outlining labour rights and employment obligations.
The LMRA maintains copies of signed contracts to assist in future disputes.
The 25th edition of the annual report features narratives on 188 countries and territories, and covers the period from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.
Last month, the GDN reported that a 39-year-old domestic worker and a 24-year-old driver from Malkiya are standing trial at the High Criminal Court for allegedly taking advantage of an elderly employer and using her credit card without her knowledge to purchase a smartphone.
In October, the domestic worker took advantage of her employer’s hospital visit to transfer BD778 from the woman’s account to her family in Ethiopia and was sentenced to a year in prison and fined BD1,000.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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