The Shura Council has suspended a re-vote 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 die in Bahrain.
During their weekly session yesterday, members voted to avoid any debate on the issue to circumvent a legal breach – that further amendments are not possible following a third scheduling.
A new date for the vote is yet to be set.
Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Humaidan, Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) chief executive Ausamah Al Absi and Foreign Minister’s Assistant for Foreign Affairs Abdulla Al Dossari urged the Shura Council members to consider financial, administrative and technical aspects to ensure swift mechanisms and smooth implementation of the rule.
Under further amendments recommended by the chamber’s services committee, the cost of return will be shouldered by the LMRA if the worker has no money.
This procedure will be handled by the Interior Ministry.
In case of death, if the family doesn’t want to, or cannot, claim the body the last rites will be performed according to stipulations stated in the 2018 Public Health Law.
Last month, the chamber had unanimously voted in favour of amendments to the 2006 Labour Market Regulatory Law.
However, five members urged the matter to be re-examined, saying there were loopholes related to shouldering the costs should the worker or his family be incapable of providing sufficient funds.
Mr Humaidan said in its current format the new rule would create practical problems.
“The costs are unknown as we would be obliged to provide shelter to violating expatriate workers before they leave the country.
“And, court cases take months.
“There are administrative and financial repercussions besides legal and practical issues and considering their impact on the labour market legislators dropped the same amendments six or seven times.”
Mr Al Dossari said shouldering the cost by expat workers doesn’t breach international human and labour rights, but the issue was more about the Labour and Social Development Ministry implementing its general policies.
“The ministry places rules, mechanisms and policies to allow workers from a particular country into Bahrain and, accordingly, the Foreign Ministry signs agreements with labour-providing countries.
“We also have to ensure there are no clashes with international rights accords whether we insist on payments or not, but the Finance and National Economy Ministry should be involved as funding should come from them if the worker is unable to pay.”
Mr Al Absi also said the Finance and National Economy Ministry needed to give the LMRA open funding because the costs are unknown.
“If the rule comes into effect and we don’t have the money it needs to covered from the national budget.”
Public utilities and environment affairs committee chairman Fouad Al Haji suggested that diplomatic missions pay for violators of their nationality, while services committee chairwoman Dr Jihad Al Fadhel said the government should stop milking public pockets for others at fault.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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