Zero tolerance against unsafe labour camps in Bahrain

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Bahrain - A ‘zero tolerance’ approach has been pledged against companies and landlords who cramp workers in unsafe labour accommodations in Manama, it has emerged.

Authorities have already identified and warned individuals for putting the lives of migrant workers at risk amidst the outbreak of the coronavirus (Covid-19).

“We are working with the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry to deal with the problem of high concentration of workers living in Manama,” said Capital Governor Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa.

“Violators have been identified and warned in co-operation with the municipalities. These include business owners and companies who just give housing allowances to their staff without bothering to see where they live.

“It is their responsibility to reduce concentration of workers in these camps and ensure they live in safe accommodations.”

Shaikh Hisham was one of the speakers featured yesterday during a televised fundraising campaign, ‘Feena Khair’ (There is Good in US), on Bahrain Television International.

He said as the country fights the pandemic, the focus remains on reducing overcrowding in densely populated areas of Manama, where thousands of low-income workers reside.

“We had a plan to deal with this problem since 2013 and managed to cover 1,029 accommodations in Manama, but now our plan is to reduce the high number of occupants in these buildings by about 30 per cent.

“Hundreds of workers have already been relocated to the dedicated shelter at Adhari Park that has a capacity to house 500 people who are provided food and other facilities such as face masks.”

Shaikh Hisham added so far more than 10,000 food parcels have been distributed in Manama to low-income workers as part of the government’s campaign to support those affected by the pandemic.

Officials last week insisted the workers, relocated to the dedicated government shelters donated by Bahrainis, were free of Covid-19, allowed to move freely, and will not be deported due to public fears.

In addition, authorities continue to disinfect labour camps located across the country, while non-governmental organisations, embassies and welfare groups continue to provide daily meals to migrant workers.

More than 85 per cent of the active cases are migrant workers, based on the ministry’s announced cases of Covid-19 among migrant workers.

Meanwhile, Labour Market Regulatory Authority chief executive Ausamah Al Absi said last night that in the past 48 hours they arranged around 10,000 meals to home quarantined migrant workers in 37 locations in co-operation with the Interior Ministry.

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