Manama, Feb. 18 (BNA): A Swiss delegation has lauded the efforts exerted by Bahrain and the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) to develop the work environment, praising the laws and systems used to protect expatriate workers, as w ell as the efforts to combat trafficking in persons.

The delegation, led by Regional Advisor on Migration and Development for the Middle East at Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Pascal Raess lauded the laws as they were received by LMRA Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons (NCCTP), Osama bin Abdulla Al-Absi.

The Swiss delegation was briefed about the efforts being exerted by the Kingdom to develop the labour market, noting that systems, regulations and laws are constantly reviewed and updated to consolidate the work environment to ensure the rights of employers and employees.

Respect for the rights of individuals and equality between them regardless of colour or ethnicity are basic in the kingdom’s social culture, Al-Absi said.
He highlighted the kingdom’s establishment of a centre to support and protect expatriate workers, noting that it is the first centre to provide integrated services to expatriate workers.

Supervised by LMRA’s NCCTP, the centre provides valuable safety and security services for victims or vulnerable expats who could fall prey to traffickers.

Al-Absi also highlighted the new projects to be introduced by LMRA later this year, including the “Flexible Work Permit”, the first of its kind in the region.