05-06-2021

His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, stressed the importance of intensifying national efforts under the current circumstances to limit the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic by enhancing preventive and precautionary measures in workplaces. This is essential to ensure the protection and safety of workers by adhering to all health directives and avoiding complacency during this exceptional period. He affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to promoting a safe and healthy work environment, free from occupational hazards and communicable diseases, in line with the precautionary measures issued by the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the Ministry of Health. In a statement, Humaidan called upon employers in private sector establishments to maintain productivity levels while implementing all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus among workers and within their accommodation. He explained that this could be achieved through administrative measures such as limiting gatherings in confined areas, observing safe distancing, applying social distancing standards, and ensuring workers' protection by providing temperature screening devices, placing sanitisation equipment in prominent locations at workplaces and entrances, preventing overcrowding at work sites and in transportation vehicles, and taking other measures that help mitigate the spread of the virus. In this context, Humaidan emphasised that today’s challenges must be transformed into opportunities to strengthen workplace safety, develop organisational procedures, and establish effective administrative systems for managing occupational risks. He underlined the importance of transferring successful practices in addressing health risks and occupational hazards, noting that many leading international companies in the field of occupational safety and health have adapted their systems in response to the evolving global health landscape. Humaidan noted that, as part of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development’s efforts to ensure that private sector establishments comply with preventive measures aimed at combating the pandemic and preserving workers’ health and safety, the Ministry conducted 14,176 inspection visits to work sites across various governorates in the Kingdom of Bahrain from the beginning of the pandemic until May 2021. At the conclusion of his statement, Humaidan stressed that the three parties of production—the Government, workers, and employers—share a national responsibility that requires enhanced cooperation to ensure the safety of workers and society as a whole. He called for the activation of all occupational health and safety systems to protect workers, who represent a fundamental pillar in the development and growth process. In this context, he praised workers' unwavering commitment, solidarity with employers as social partners, and continued contributions to advancing economic development.