The kingdom’s oldest migrant rights organisation has doubled its case monitoring and strengthened its rapid-response network since the Iranian attacks began in Bahrain, helping more than 40 workers navigate employment and financial issues this year.
The Migrant Workers Protection Society (MWPS) recently published the first edition of its 2026 newsletter ‘Migrant Voice’, highlighting 18 of the 42 cases it has handled this year, of which 36 have been resolved.
“Since February 28, we have doubled our case monitoring and strengthened our rapid-response network, not because we changed, but because that is what a safe harbour does when the storm picks up,” MWPS chairperson Mona Almoayyed said, in the newsletter.
Ms Almoayyed
Homelessness, medical emergencies and unpaid wages made up the majority of cases that the MWPS has fielded this year.
In addition, the society also facilitated the deportation of 50 former inmates, who had served their sentences, by covering the cost of photographs required to issue exit permits, on the basis of a request from the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs office.
Another case that the society is continuing to support is that of a Sri Lankan woman who was supposed to fly back home on March 1, but has yet to return due to the current situation.
The housemaid’s passport was held by her agent, who filed a case alleging she had absconded from employment and subsequently cancelled her visa.
The MWPS helped her obtain an exit permit and is continuing to support her with dry ration.
Another Sri Lankan housemaid was stranded in Bahrain and wanted to go home to be with her unwell child.
“She was unable to cover the full cost of the flight ticket,” MWPS explained, adding that the society supported her in obtaining the ticket and co-ordinated bus travel to help her reach Dammam, from where her flight departed during the airspace closure in Bahrain.
In total, amongst the cases highlighted, the MWPS worked with the Sri Lankan embassy and immigration authorities to repatriate seven nationals from the country in the first quarter of this year.
Reasons for repatriation ranged from medical emergencies to financial struggles and overstayed visas.
The MWPS also helped a Sri Lankan who had lost his job in December last year and was unable to pay part of the school fees for his daughter, who was in her final year at school and was barred from writing her exam due to unpaid tuition. The society managed to find a sponsor to cover the full amount, ensuring that she was able to take the exam.
Another case involved an Indian single mother, who along with her 17-year-old daughter, had been sleeping outdoors for five days after their landlord disconnected their electricity and demanded they vacate the apartment due to unpaid rent.
MWPS supported her with rent for one month, ensuring they had a roof over their heads.
Among the ongoing cases is that of two siblings whose wages have gone unpaid for the past five months by the restaurant where they were employed. The employer accused them of theft, withheld their passports and CPRs, and evicted them from their accommodation. The siblings have since been arrested for alleged theft.
MWPS has provided financial support for clothing inside the prison and arranged legal assistance through the MWPS lawyer.
“The case is currently ongoing in court,” the society explained. “Efforts are also being made to negotiate with the sponsor for withdrawal of the case.”
In the first quarter of this year, the MWPS also worked with health professionals, labour unions, the International Organisation for Migration and religious leaders to bolster its community outreach.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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