LMRA: 526 criminal violations referred to Public Prosecution from 7 October – 30 November 2022

The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) stressed its commitment to intensify inspection campaigns against violators of provisions of the Labour Market and Residency Laws in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in order to preserve a competitive, fair and stable labour market, and to address any illegal practices that may affect the work environment. The Authority explained that ensuring the protection of the rights of both the employee and employer, and confronting illegal practices, including combating all forms of trafficking in persons and forced labour, will remain an ongoing priority.

In this regard, the LMRA announced that it has carried out 4767 inspection visits from October 7, 2022 until November 30, 2022, in addition to 57 joint inspection campaigns with relevant government agencies. These efforts led to the referral of 526 criminal violations and 62 forced labour cases to the Public Prosecution, it added.

The total penalties collected amounted to approximately 205,000 Bahraini Dinars, and the number of deported workers reached 505 workers, including those whom a ruling of deportation was issued against them by the Courts and the Public Prosecution.

LMRA called on employers and employees to familiarize themselves with the Labour Market and Residency Laws, and to abide by their implementation, to ensure avoidance of legal accountability, noting that most of the violations of employers referred to the Public Prosecution were related to the use of a foreign worker without a work permit issued.

The Labour Market and Residency Laws also prohibits the employment of a worker before issuing a work permit and paying the prescribed fees and the retention of work permits without an actual need for them.

LMRA also noted that the worker is obliged to work at the workplace indicated in the permit or in other branches of the employer that carry out the same activity, stressing that failure to comply with laws and regulations exposes the violator to legal accountability.

It is worth noting that LMRA has begun to intensify inspection efforts through daily inspection visits and joint inspection campaigns with relevant government agencies in various governorates of the Kingdom.

LMRA called on all members of society to support the efforts of government entities to address illegal practices in the labour market and irregular employment in order to protect society as a whole, and to report any complaints related to labour market violations and irregular employment by filling out the electronic report form on the authority’s official website www.lmra.bh or by calling the authority’s call center 17506055.