The Minister of Labor and Social Development issues an administrative circular to employers and workers to commit to implementing measures to combat the spread of (Covid-19) at work sites and workers’

13-04-2020

Based on the decisions of the Coordination Committee, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, may God protect him, and the decision of His Excellency the Minister of Interior No. (59) of 2020 obligating those visiting public places and industrial and commercial establishments to wear protective face masks, and as a continuation of the precautionary measures against the Coronavirus (COVID‑19) to preserve the safety and health of workers and those present at worksites and to limit the spread of the virus, His Excellency Jameel bin Mohammad Ali Humaidan, Minister of Labour and Social Development, issued an administrative circular to private‑sector establishments (employers and workers) regarding combating and preventing the spread of this disease at worksites and workers’ housing in private‑sector establishments, to be implemented by employers from 13 April 2020 until further notice. The circular issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Development to all private‑sector establishments, companies and institutions emphasises that both parties to production must implement directives issued by the Ministry of Health to protect public health. It also emphasises the responsibility of employers to protect all workers and individuals present at workplaces and workers’ accommodation from the risks of the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID‑19). The administrative circular obliges private‑sector employers to provide protective face masks and requires all workers to wear them at worksites to limit the spread of infection among workers. It also emphasises the responsibility of employers to prevent individuals from entering the facility or worksite before ensuring they are wearing protective face masks. The administrative circular stressed that employers or their authorised representatives must measure the temperature of all workers upon entering worksites, upon leaving during work, and upon leaving their designated residences, noting that if any rise in temperature is detected for any of the workers, then the employer or his representative must immediately isolate the worker and call 444 to verify the detected condition and refer the worker to obtain the necessary medical care. The circular also directed companies and institutions to reduce the number of workers at worksites, particularly in break rooms, waiting rooms and changing rooms, as well as in vehicles used to transport workers within the facility and to and from worksites. To enhance social distancing measures and limit contact in the workplace, the Minister emphasised the importance of implementing a work‑from‑home policy for male and female employees at workplaces whenever practical, particularly for working mothers in private‑sector establishments. The administrative circular devoted a special section to the precautions and requirements that must be observed in workers’ housing, due to its great importance and direct impact on the health and safety of residents and society in general. The circular urged employers to reduce the number of workers present in one room in workers’ housing, and to increase the space allocated to each worker to the maximum extent possible, so that social distancing is achieved between workers by maintaining a safe distance between them, with no less than two metres between workers. It is worth noting that according to the first clause of Article (3) of Decision No. (40) of 2014 regarding Requirements and Specifications of Workers' Accommodation, the space allocated to each worker must not be less than four square metres of free space in the rooms allocated to workers’ housing. This is a clear indication that occupational safety and health legislation in the Kingdom of Bahrain is consistent with the foundations and principles necessary to combat infection and provide the essential protection for workers in the housing allocated to them. In addition, establishments must prohibit inter‑employer visits between workers’ housing units. Employers that provide accommodation are also directed to reserve separate buildings capable of housing at least ten per cent of their workforce for precautionary quarantine, which is in line with Public Health Department guidelines for establishments employing more than 50 workers. He concluded by stressing that employers—or their authorised representatives—must monitor adherence to these precautionary measures and impose deterrent penalties on violators, thereby protecting the well‑being of all labour‑market participants and society at large. In this context, the Minister emphasised his appreciation for the high national sense of duty enjoyed by employers and partners in the labour market, and the cooperation and coordination they are demonstrating with the Ministry and relevant official bodies within the framework of national efforts to confront this exceptional circumstance. He pointed out that the commitment of establishments to implementing the decisions of the Coordination Committee and the decisions issued by the National Campaign to Combat the Spread of the Coronavirus (COVID‑19) is of great importance and has broad repercussions on the safety and health of workers and all members of society, and reinforces the official efforts taken at the national level to combat this epidemic.