[Bahrain] New labour reforms for expat work permits and protection

On October 5 in Bahrain, a proposed set of new labour market reforms to replace Flexi Permits was announced, Khaleej Times reports.

The changes will increase protections for expatriate workers and streamline the processes around registering for work or change of employment.

The new measures reportedly represent the next step in Bahrain’s strong track record of leading regional reform in this area. In 2017, Bahrain secured Tier-1 Status in the US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report, which ranks the Kingdom alongside countries such as France, the UK, the US and Germany across a range of areas.

The Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain announced the proposal in the presence of other leaders and government officials. The reforms would be implemented by Bahrain’s Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), they include:

1. The establishment of new labour registration centres and an online registration portal to make worker registration easier.

2. Guaranteed Labour Market Regulatory Authority representation for any disputes between employee and employer.

3. New measures to link work permits to vocational and occupational standards to increase safety and protections in places of work.

The reforms will be implemented by the Kingdom’s Labour Market Regulatory Authority. Once they are in place, inspections to identify employers engaged in illegal activity will be increased to safeguard the rights of employers, workers and the Kingdom's business community.

The changes will also reportedly provide a more robust structure to allow employers greater flexibility to pay and source labour, driving the growth of the private sector which is at the heart of the Kingdom’s ongoing development.

On October 5 in Bahrain, a proposed set of new labour market reforms to replace Flexi Permits was announced, Khaleej Times reports.

The changes will increase protections for expatriate workers and streamline the processes around registering for work or change of employment.

The new measures reportedly represent the next step in Bahrain’s strong track record of leading regional reform in this area. In 2017, Bahrain secured Tier-1 Status in the US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report, which ranks the Kingdom alongside countries such as France, the UK, the US and Germany across a range of areas.

The Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain announced the proposal in the presence of other leaders and government officials. The reforms would be implemented by Bahrain’s Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), they include:

1. The establishment of new labour registration centres and an online registration portal to make worker registration easier.

2. Guaranteed Labour Market Regulatory Authority representation for any disputes between employee and employer.

3. New measures to link work permits to vocational and occupational standards to increase safety and protections in places of work.

The reforms will be implemented by the Kingdom’s Labour Market Regulatory Authority. Once they are in place, inspections to identify employers engaged in illegal activity will be increased to safeguard the rights of employers, workers and the Kingdom's business community.

The changes will also reportedly provide a more robust structure to allow employers greater flexibility to pay and source labour, driving the growth of the private sector which is at the heart of the Kingdom’s ongoing development.