BAHRAIN yesterday signed a bilateral labour pact with Nepal to pave the way for secured employment opportunities and provide legal recognition to Nepali workers here. Bahrain Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi arrived in Kathmandu yesterday on a three-day long official visit leading a nine-member delegation.

Dr Al Alawi signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with his Nepali counterpart Ramesh Lekhak in Kathmandu.

The accord clearly spells out requirements needed for the job seekers and recruiting agencies in the source country, according to officials.

The employers in Bahrain will be bound to comply with domestic labour laws and provide facilities as per the laws.

It also seeks to protect workers’ rights and prevent improper practices by private labour supply agencies which tend to exploit the workers by demanding more fees, providing false information about their working conditions in host country as well as misleading the employers in Bahrain regarding the workers’ qualifications, experiences and documents.

More than 10,000 Nepalis are currently working in Bahrain as domestic helps.

Most of them are unskilled labourers.

A similar agreement for the protection and welfare of Indian workers was signed on Saturday between India and Bahrain.

The labour and manpower development MoU was signed at the Kumarakom Lake Resort in India in the presence of Mr Al Alawi and Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi.

It will provide a legal framework for the protection of the rights of Indian workers and their employers.