BUSINESS owners have demanded ‘more aggressive’ measures to tackle ‘runaway’ workers.
Employers who gathered at the Economic Majlis organised by the Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society said cases of runaways were on the rise following the Covid-19 pandemic.
They sought solutions beyond the optional insurance system introduced in August.
Mr Emam
Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) resources and services deputy chief executive Ashraf Emam said the government was studying the issue, while contemplating possible solutions alongside the insurance system for domestic workers.
He reiterated that the law did not categorise any worker as ‘runaway’, but only as ‘absent from work’ – clarifying to the GDN that the issue cannot be tackled until the situation gets back to normal post pandemic.
“We cannot estimate the exact number of runaways due to the impact of the coronavirus during the last two years,” he said.
“We are studying the issue – both from the client’s point of view and the labour market.
“One of the solutions is an insurance for domestic workers and we have proposed it to clients.
“It is not mandatory at this stage, but we are soon launching it as an option while the government is studying other solutions as well.”
The GDN reported that the insurance scheme, which includes direct hiring and recruitment through manpower agencies, will be launched in co-operation with the Central Bank of Bahrain and Bahrain Insurance Association. It will provide maximum protection to the employer and the domestic worker as well their legal heirs. It includes compensation in the event of the employee leaving work in violation of work permit conditions, besides unfair dismissal as well as in cases of injury, disability or death.
In the event of death, insured employees’ legal heirs will receive compensation and repatriation cost would be covered.
The employer may, if he wishes, apply for optional insurance while applying for permission to hire domestic workers. Insurance policy rates range from BD40 to BD120 for 12 months and BD60 to BD180 for 24 months.
BBWS president Ahlam Janahi however called for tougher laws to address the issue.
“Insurance is a good option to compensate for runaway workers, but we need a more aggressive approach to tackle the issue that is increasing by the day,” said Ms Janahi.
In April, Labour and Social Development Minister and LMRA chairman Jameel Humaidan told the parliament that new measures were being introduced to address the problem of runaway housemaids. These included binding contracts, companies authorised to provide cleaners on an hourly basis and insurance policies for employers.
Mr Humaidan said there were 2,596 cases of runaway housemaids in the past three years. He also noted that a GCC study on housemaid fees was being compiled to help set prices for recruitment and wages.
Meanwhile, Interior Ministry assistant under-secretary for legal affairs Brigadier Humood Saad Humood also told the parliament that over the past two years, the ministry had caught 1,173 runaway housemaids and 1,380 illegal workers. The ministry also received 4,500 complaints about housemaids and 5,365 about illegal workers.
The Shura Council in February last year suspended a revote on a new rule that would have obliged expatriate runaway workers to buy their own tickets back home or have their relatives pay for their repatriation if they died in Bahrain.
A new date for the vote is yet to be set, while MPs have also submitted a proposed legislation to form a government housemaid recruitment firm under Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company.
&uuid=(email))