THE LMRA should be commended for its work and its mission, which we expect should improve the lot of both expatriates and Bahrainis alike as it relates to workers’ rights and improving employment opportunities for nationals.

However, in the past two weeks, we have been deeply shocked by the manner in which the LMRA has conducted its registration process at Bahrain International Investment Park, Hidd.

The tenants of this building have daily witnessed long queues of hundreds of people with very little management by the organisers.

Workers are being forced to line up outside without water or protection from the heat and blowing sand. In some cases, workers have been queuing for more than a day and have still failed to get registered. Workers are abused physically and verbally by the security personnel that struggle to manage the crowds.

There are many solutions to this problem, which apparently the LMRA has failed to consider. Some of these include:

* Choose a more suitable location with proper facilities.

* Request companies with more than five workers visiting at a time to schedule an appointment beforehand.

* Add more staff, registration machines, and equipment to the existing location.

* Provide water and other refreshments.

* Provide a ticketing system to order the queues.

I understand that the registration process will continue till May 27 at this location, and so I urge the LMRA to take positive action to improve the situation there.

Omar