Humaidan meets the head of the mission of the International Organization for Migration in Bahrain

01-10-2019

His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, Mr Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, met in his office with His Excellency Mr Mohammed Al Zarkani, Head of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Mission in the Kingdom of Bahrain. During the meeting, issues related to the rights of migrant workers were discussed, and the Kingdom of Bahrain’s efforts to guarantee these rights and protect workers were reviewed. This comes in light of Bahrain’s advanced standing—Tier 1 for the second consecutive year—in the US Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report issued in June this year, as the only country in the Middle East and North Africa region to hold this position. The Kingdom continues to maintain its international standing in combating trafficking in persons, earned through the development of its legal and institutional frameworks that enhance the work environment and protect workers. On this occasion, Humaidan affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to supporting and facilitating the work of the organisation’s office in the Kingdom, as well as close cooperation and continuous communication with all international organisations concerned with human and workers’ rights. He emphasised the endeavour to enhance constructive and ongoing cooperation with the International Organisation for Migration to uphold human rights—particularly the rights of migrant workers—in accordance with international labour standards. For his part, Al Zarkani expressed appreciation for the efforts made by the Kingdom of Bahrain to enhance protection for migrant workers and combat human trafficking, praising the roles of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development and the Labour Market Regulatory Authority in this area. He underscored the International Organisation for Migration’s interest in strengthening cooperation with all parties concerned with human rights in the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as highlighting Bahrain’s successful experience in international forums. Through its office in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the International Organisation for Migration focuses on providing humanitarian and advisory services, in cooperation with GCC member states, on all matters related to migrant workers and facilitating their access to their rights. The International Organisation for Migration opened its office in 2018 under a cooperation agreement between Bahrain and the organisation, signed by His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA). The IOM office is located in the Migrant Workers Protection Centre building affiliated with the LMRA.