News
MLSD Minister discusses with PM the job stability of citizens in the private sector
08-06-2020
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 Member of the Council of Representatives Mr Mamdouh Abbas Al Saleh to review the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to support and stabilise the national workforce and to discuss continued co‑operation between the legislative and executive authorities aimed at bolstering labour‑market growth and strengthening social protection for every segment of society. Humaidan reiterated the esteemed Government’s determination to extend comprehensive support to citizens amid the global Coronavirus (COVID‑19) pandemic, noting that Bahrain’s integrated health, social and economic response measures have earned recognition from both citizens and international organisations. He underscored the importance of joint action to sustain labour‑market stability and commended national companies and institutions for honouring their commitment to preserve Bahraini employment during these exceptional circumstances. The Minister assured MP Al Saleh that the labour market remains stable, emphasising that the Ministry engages directly with establishments to address any issues affecting the fundamental employment rights of national workers and to devise appropriate solutions. He explained that, while the labour market operates according to supply‑and‑demand dynamics, any Bahraini employees released by one establishment will be assisted by the Ministry in securing positions with other companies and institutions. Expressing confidence in Bahrain’s capacity to navigate the current challenges successfully, he highlighted the nation’s growing experience in managing such situations. MP Al Saleh lauded the Ministry’s efforts to uphold job stability for Bahraini citizens in the private sector and to guarantee the full protection of their employment rights. He stressed the necessity of concerted endeavours to sustain labour‑market growth and commended the Ministry’s oversight of health and safety measures at workplaces and in workers’ accommodation, which reinforces precautions against the Coronavirus.
MLSD Minister reviews with PM BuHammoud efforts to ensure the stability of national employment in the private sector
07-06-2020
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 today, Sunday, in his office with Council of Representatives member Mr Mohammed Khalifa Bu Hamoud. Humaidan briefed Mr Bu Hamoud on the Ministry’s efforts, under the current exceptional circumstances, to safeguard the stability of national employment within private‑sector establishments and to ensure employers’ full implementation of preventive measures against the spread of Coronavirus (COVID‑19), thereby reinforcing workforce protection and safety. He reviewed the positive outcomes achieved through the Ministry’s engagement with institutions and companies that had notified Bahraini employees of forthcoming terminations, outlining the settlements reached and the corrective action taken to address each case. Humaidan affirmed that the Ministry maintains ongoing communication with private‑sector establishments to monitor the status of national workers, secure their job stability and prevent any infringement of their rights, while intensifying measures to mitigate the pandemic’s adverse impact on the labour market. He noted the serious cooperation shown by companies and institutions in retaining Bahraini employees whenever restructuring or workforce reductions are contemplated. Mr Bu Hamoud commended the Ministry’s dedicated efforts to uphold the stability and fundamental rights of Bahraini workers and to shield them from the pandemic’s negative repercussions. He also praised the Ministry’s oversight of employers’ adherence to all prescribed precautionary measures at workplaces and in workers’ accommodation.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Development invites civil society organizations to hold their general assemblies remotely
31-05-2020
Director of the Directorate of Support for Non-Governmental Organisations at the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, Ms. Najwa Abdul Latif Janahi, affirmed that the Ministry has called on civil society organisations under the Ministry’s umbrella to hold their general assembly meetings remotely on their scheduled dates, in accordance with their bylaws, as part of the ongoing measures to curb the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). She pointed out that this step comes within the framework of ensuring the safety of civil society members, including heads and members of the boards of directors of civil society organisations, and ensuring the continuity of their voluntary, charitable and professional efforts and work under a sound legal status that does not prejudice the performance of these duties. Janahi affirmed that the Ministry of Labour and Social Development has authorised associations to hold general assembly meetings via live videoconferencing, and has also authorised the use of specialised technical systems for remote electronic voting, to vote on the discharge of the board of directors in respect of the financial report, vote on the literary report, and vote in the board of directors’ elections. She pointed out that the use of this technology ensures that a complete record of the elections is retained in the association’s files and may be consulted when needed, as it is deemed among the association’s official documents. The Director of the Non-Government Organizations' Support Directorate explained that the Ministry has begun implementing this approach in cooperation with associations that have the technical capabilities to do so, noting that the Ministry has provided its representatives with all necessary technical capabilities that enable them to participate in general assembly meetings remotely, in order to monitor the meetings in terms of attendance rates, election processes and vote counting. She pointed out that implementing this experiment will overcome many of the obstacles that may confront civil society associations, especially those related to ensuring the integrity of their legal status, represented by holding general assemblies and conducting board elections in accordance with their bylaws.
MLSD Minister stresses the interest in not compromising the living needs of citizens
31-05-2020
His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, received His Excellency Dr. Hisham Ahmed Al Asheeri, Member of Parliament, at the Ministry today, Sunday. The meeting considered strengthening cooperation between the executive and legislative branches in labour and social welfare services. During the meeting, Humaidan briefed MP Al Asheeri on the latest developments concerning the Ministry of Labour and Social Development’s various initiatives in the fields of labour and social protection for all segments and groups of society, particularly in light of these exceptional circumstances, and without prejudicing their living needs. He also underscored the importance of protecting the labour market system and maintaining its stability, in a manner that serves sustainable development in the Kingdom of Bahrain. For his part, MP Al Asheeri commended the efforts of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development in fulfilling its role of providing comprehensive development services in the fields of labour and social services to various categories and segments of citizens. He emphasised in this context the importance of cooperation between the legislative and executive authorities, given its positive impact in meeting citizens’ needs for the various development services provided by the Ministry to the targeted groups, especially during this period, through its digital platforms and through its centres in all governorates of the Kingdom.
MLSD Minister confirms that occupational health and safety at work sites is one of the most important aspects of community safety
30-05-2020
His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Mr. Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, has stressed the importance of employers intensifying their preventive efforts and precautionary measures to protect workers, by adhering to social distancing standards in workplaces and in workers’ accommodation, following all instructions issued by the Ministry of Health and the relevant authorities, and avoiding complacency during this exceptional period, to help limit the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). This comes in implementation of the directives of the Coordination Committee, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, may God protect him, and aligns with the application of preventive measures to curb the transmission of COVID-19. In a statement, Humaidan praised the efforts of His Excellency Lieutenant-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, commending the strong cooperation and coordination between the two ministries in adopting precautionary measures and combating the spread of infection in accommodation occupied by expatriate workers. He emphasised that this complements the efforts of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development in enforcing all precautionary measures in accommodation provided by establishments for their workers, under the Ministry’s supervision and monitoring. He further noted that many employers have promptly implemented measures to address this pandemic, particularly in workers’ housing, including the provision of additional accommodation where required to ease overcrowding and lower density. He noted that 8,011 workers had been transferred to new accommodation provided by their establishments, while some companies and institutions had redistributed workers to vacant rooms within the same accommodation. He affirmed that there would be no leniency towards establishments that fail to comply with health and safety requirements, whether in accommodation or at worksites. The Minister also pointed out that the Ministry has formed a specialised team of occupational safety supervisors and engineers to intensify communication with establishments, ensuring the implementation of legal provisions that require the formation of occupational safety and health committees at workplaces and residences, with the aim of achieving the highest levels of worker safety and protection. Humaidan urged private sector establishments to adopt remote working wherever possible, particularly for roles that can be performed from home, in order to reduce the number of workers at worksites while maintaining productivity. He underscored that preventive measures such as wearing face masks, conducting daily temperature checks, and placing sanitisers in visible areas at worksites—especially at entry and exit points—together with administrative measures such as preventing gatherings in confined spaces, maintaining the required distance as set by the relevant health authorities, and avoiding crowding at worksites or in workers’ accommodation, play a decisive role in limiting the spread of COVID-19. As part of its commitment, the Ministry of Labour and Social Development has overseen the sterilisation of 793 workers’ residences, with designated areas allocated for precautionary quarantine. The Ministry also followed up at 1,055 worksites across numerous companies and institutions to ensure regular sterilisation and to emphasise the importance of raising awareness among all categories of workers of methods to prevent infectious diseases, in addition to implementing proactive measures to combat infection in both worksites and workers’ accommodation. To combat the spread of this global pandemic, the Ministry of Labour and Social Development has launched awareness campaigns in cooperation with the National Campaign to Combat the Spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). Informative publications are being distributed in multiple languages for foreign workers. More than 400,000 awareness booklets and printed materials have been produced, targeting 350,000 foreign workers in various languages. The Ministry has also intensified its communication with employers to reduce the number of workers in employer-provided accommodation, in line with the preventive guidelines on social distancing in workers’ housing, as stipulated in Decision No. (40) of 2014 regarding Requirements and Specifications of Workers' Accommodation, particularly the provision of four square metres of free space for each worker in the rooms in which they reside.
Ministry of Labor and Social Development: Register attendance, book appointments, and view available job opportunities through the website
30-05-2020
The Ministry of Labour and Social Development announced that, starting Monday, 1 June 2020, it will begin enhancing its electronic recruitment procedures after successfully completing the trial period. This will provide jobseekers with the full opportunity to easily access the system, register their attendance, and book an appointment for nominating jobseekers for employment through the Ministry’s website www.mlsd.gov.bh. Jobseekers can log in, register their attendance electronically, and book upcoming appointments. They can also view available employment opportunities at the electronic recruitment fair and nominate themselves for the jobs they desire and that suit them, according to what is available in the Ministry’s vacancy bank. The Ministry clarified in a statement that eligibility for unemployment benefits and compensation requires electronic attendance registration and viewing the available employment opportunities on the Ministry’s website, which exempts jobseekers from personally visiting the Ministry and its employment and training centres. This comes against the backdrop of the precautionary measures and preventive measures taken by the Ministry of Labour and Social Development to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), which come in implementation of the decisions of the Coordination Committee, headed 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 in a manner that achieves high efficiency in harnessing electronic systems to serve citizens and achieve more justice and transparency in the nomination and employment systems applied in the Ministry. The Ministry of Labour and Social Development called on citizens seeking employment who face difficulties in dealing with the electronic services on the Ministry’s website to call the hotline (80008001) to obtain the necessary facilities and guidance for the employment process, or to visit the Ministry’s employment and training centres in all governorates of the Kingdom of Bahrain. This measure comes in light of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development launching a package of electronic services in the labour field. These services can be accessed by visiting the Ministry’s website (www.mlsd.gov.bh) and completing the required transactions with ease and convenience.
MLSD Minister notes the employers' commitment to pay them on time.. Paying May salaries to citizens working in private sector establishments
28-05-2020
His Excellency Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, Minister of Labour and Social Development, announced that companies and institutions operating in the private sector have commenced disbursing the salaries of their Bahraini employees for the month of May, whose wages were covered by the government. This follows the Social Insurance Organisation (SIO) completing procedures to transfer all amounts into employers’ accounts for the wages of insured national workers. He stressed that the Ministry will immediately address any delays or difficulties in the disbursement process, if any, and requested that any such issues be reported via the designated telephone numbers or email. He called on all establishments to pay salaries on the scheduled dates. The esteemed government's commitment to paying the wages of Bahraini citizens comes in implementation of the royal directives to launch a financial and economic package to support citizens and the private sector. The esteemed government will pay the wages to all Bahrainis working in the private sector and registered with the Social Insurance Organisation (SIO) for the months of April, May and June 2020, during this exceptional period, and to intensify national efforts to limit the effects of the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). The payment of wages for Bahrainis during the three months mentioned came in implementation of the text of Law No. 8 of 2020 by adding a new clause numbered 3 to Paragraph (c) of Article 8 of Decree‑Law No. 87 of 2006 regarding unemployment insurance, which stipulates “Payment of wages for insured Bahraini workers under the provisions of the Social Insurance Law promulgated by Legislative Decree No. (24) of 1976 for a period of three months starting from April 2020, up to a maximum amount of their insured salary, taking into consideration Clause (e) of this Article.” The Minister of Labour and Social Development praised the keenness of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the great King of the country, may God protect and preserve him, and the esteemed government, headed by His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, and the continuous follow‑up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, may God protect them, to provide the necessary liquidity to the private sector to deal with the effects of the current situation and mitigate the social and economic impacts of the repercussions of the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Humaidan affirmed that the government is giving the private sector increased attention and support under these circumstances, given its pivotal economic role in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He noted that paying the salaries of citizens working in the private sector is part of this demonstration of support, while also noting the cooperation of employers and their commitment to paying the salaries of Bahraini employees on time. The Ministry of Labour and Social Development invites citizens to contact it during official working hours on 17873919, 17873918 and 17873913, or via email to insp@mlsd.gov.bh, to report or register any complaint in the event that wages for May 2020 are not received.
Completing of (12,296) online transactions for beneficiaries of unemployment insurance services
26-05-2020
The Director of the Compensation and Unemployment Support Directorate at the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, Ms Fawzia Saleh Shehab, confirmed that the completion of transactions for citizens and beneficiaries of the services provided remotely by the Ministry in the field of providing unemployment benefits and compensation has been proceeding smoothly and efficiently from the end of March until mid‑May 2020, as health measures were implemented to limit the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID‑19), noting that the Compensation and Unemployment Support Directorate team follows up electronically and through direct contact to maintain the smooth flow of all requests from the concerned groups and their remote completion with full quality and efficiency. The Directorate has completed 12,296 electronic transactions for unemployment benefit beneficiaries and unemployment compensation beneficiaries, in addition to issuing lists of eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits and compensation. In addition, the Compensation and Unemployment Support Directorate provided various remote services during the mentioned period, as it registered 823 job seekers for repeated claims in the system to benefit from unemployment benefits. It also registered 176 dismissed people during the mentioned period to benefit from unemployment compensation. It also responded to 6,438 calls in this regard by phone, in addition to receiving 305 grievance forms to obtain unemployment services, answering 498 enquiries through the Tawasul programme, and responding to 4,056 messages via e‑mail. Ms Shehab pointed out that the Ministry’s implementation of preventive and precautionary measures in light of these exceptional circumstances and the completion of public transactions afterward aims primarily to ensure the safety and health of everyone, whether Ministry employees or targeted groups, as all transactions are conducted through the Ministry’s electronic platforms. She pointed out that the Ministry will not hesitate to provide unemployment insurance services despite the circumstances the world is going through due to the virus, as the unemployment insurance system constitutes a social safety net for job seekers or to compensate for unemployment for those dismissed from their jobs, as the system provides reassurance to every worker and serious job seeker by providing financial support during the unemployment period. Shehab concluded her statement by stressing that the Compensation and Unemployment Support Directorate has been working, since the Ministry completed its eServices, to meet all enquiries received by the Directorate from honourable citizens, calling at the same time on all beneficiaries of the Directorate’s services to send any enquiries or comments via the newly created e‑mail addresses on the Ministry of Labour and Social Development’s website (www.mlsd.gov.bh), and the targeted groups can fill out the application forms and send them with the required attachments to the Directorate’s e‑mail: cu.reg@mlsd.gov.bh, and for more enquiries, please call the toll‑free hotline 80008001.
MLSD Minister praises Nasser bin Hamad's directives to allocate 5 million dinars to support affected families and citizen
26-05-2020
His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Mr Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, praised the directives of His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, National Security Advisor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF), to the Coordination and Follow-up Committee of the “Feena Khair” campaign, concerned with distributing aid, to allocate five million dinars to support needy Bahraini families and citizens affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. He stressed that this directive will contribute to alleviating the burden on these citizens, including needy families, productive families and home-based business owners whose businesses were affected by the precautionary measures taken to combat the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, in addition to uninsured business owners registered with the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, as well as the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, who have virtual commercial registrations and whose businesses were affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Humaidan said that the Ministry of Labour and Social Development is in direct and continuous contact with the Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF) to implement the directives of His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and ensure the rapid distribution of aid to those who are entitled to it and those affected by the precautionary measures taken to combat the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Foundation has been provided with lists of affected productive families and uninsured business owners, to be distributed among those benefitting from the directive. In the same context, Humaidan commended the generous directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the great King of the country, may God protect and preserve him, to assist needy families registered with the Royal Humanitarian Foundation and the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, who are affected by the crisis, to alleviate the financial burdens they face during this exceptional situation.
MLSD Minsiter praises volunteers in community service and partnership with official and civil institutions
25-05-2020
His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Mr Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, praised the efforts of volunteers of all ages and interests, appreciating their distinguished and prominent role in serving the community, through effective partnerships with official and civil institutions, whether they are affiliated with civil society organisations or independent individuals. He pointed out the support and assistance they have provided to the efforts of the Kingdom of Bahrain, especially recently within the national efforts to confront the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID‑19), and their haste to register to volunteer as soon as the door was opened for volunteers to participate and contribute to supporting national efforts during these exceptional circumstances. In a limited number of hours, more than 30,000 volunteers registered, contributing to many prominent tasks, such as assisting the nursing team in several health sites, in addition to raising awareness among citizens and residents in many locations. They also played a distinguished role in sterilising many work sites, shopping malls, and others, in addition to contributing to helping senior citizens and people with disabilities deliver medicines to their homes, and other things they need in these exceptional circumstances, which made them a source of pride and admiration from all citizens of all categories. Humaidan emphasised that this patriotic and humanitarian behaviour is not new to the people of Bahrain or its residents, as they have always recorded honourable stances over many years. He considered that what they have provided, whether as volunteer organisations or individuals, during the current phase is a rich experience in volunteer work, and confirms the solidarity and cohesion of Bahraini society. At the same time, he called for benefiting from this experience to enhance the professionalism of volunteer work. Humaidan said that humanitarian volunteer work is a hallmark of social development and an indicator of the presence of self‑motivating energies within society capable of giving and growth. Volunteers are a driving force behind the economy, as they contribute to providing a variety of social services in education, training, healthcare, the environment, and services for senior citizens and people with disabilities. On this occasion, His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Mr Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, stressed that the Kingdom of Bahrain has been rich in humanitarian volunteer work since ancient times. The people of Bahrain were among the first to start organising social charitable work in the Gulf, and the first to take the initiative to organise volunteer work for social, educational, health, environmental and other services. Bahrain is still active in the field of volunteer work, both inside and outside Bahrain. Today, civil volunteer work has become a support and a parallel sector in all its work and services for public and private institutions alike.
ompletion of (269) remote transactions for family counseling services at the Ministry of Labor and Social Development
17-05-2020
As part of the national precautionary efforts and preventive measures to limit the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Family Guidance Offices at the Ministry of Labour and Social Development have worked to reduce the personal presence of beneficiaries of the social centre offices in all governorates of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the maximum extent, by providing family guidance services remotely through the Ministry’s official website (www.mlsd.gov.bh) and its electronic platforms on social media (mlsdbahrain) or by calling the hotline 80008001, so that no transaction is completed in person except in the narrowest limits and for the utmost necessity, while taking the necessary preventive precautions, noting that the Family Guidance Offices provided (269) eServices to citizens during the period from 22 March to the end of April 2020. In this regard, the Director of the Social Welfare Directorate at the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, Mrs Huda Muhammad Al‑Hamoud, confirmed that the family guidance offices continue to carry out their tasks remotely, and through modern technology, in line with the measures taken in light of these exceptional circumstances, and in a way that ensures the smooth and efficient flow of work, as the offices have provided (48) family consultations since the start of the implementation of precautionary measures against the Coronavirus (COVID-19), and provided family guidance services to (191) cases benefiting from the family care programme, in addition to settling (30) cases to implement family care provisions amicably. Al‑Hamoud pointed out that since the beginning of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Family Guidance Offices have taken a number of initiatives to facilitate transactions for citizens, save time and effort, and preserve their safety and that of the Ministry’s employees, as anyone wishing to obtain services can benefit from the eServices available on the Ministry’s official website without the need to personally visit the social centres. In the same context, she pointed out that these eServices have become of a distinguished level of quality, similar to eServices previously provided by the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, stressing that the Ministry is constantly seeking to meet the needs of citizens and encourage them to invest in the Ministry’s digital platforms to benefit from the many services it provides.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Development: 15,529 online transactions for social assistance services have been completed
16-05-2020
Sahar Rashid Al Mannai, Director of the Social Assistance Directorate at the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, confirmed that the number of eServices completed by the Ministry in the field of providing social assistance to citizens, which includes social security, financial support, disability allowance, and compensation for house fires, amounted to 15,529 transactions, during the period from 18 March to the end of April 2020. The keenness to complete transactions remotely comes within the framework of ensuring the safety of everyone, including the targeted groups, and ensuring the continuity of financial dues disbursement on time. Al Mannai explained that the Social Assistance Directorate was keen to develop a number of precautionary plans and measures, as one of the measures to implement social distancing to limit the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), as citizens can now safely complete transactions electronically 24 hours a day, noting the possibility of using the services provided by the department on all electronic platforms affiliated with the Ministry, whether through the electronic mail addresses that were created for all social services on the Ministry’s website, and distributed to the concerned employees in all the Ministry’s social centres in all governorates of the Kingdom of Bahrain, or by calling the registration and social services employees via the contact list created in the relevant social centres and shown on the Ministry’s official website, so that citizens can communicate directly with the concerned parties to enquire about the required service. In this context, Al Mannai said that the transactions completed remotely varied between the personal presence of 402 clients, 10,209 phone calls, 4,807 transactions via email, 111 transactions via the Tawasul platform, and 2,339 additional calls via the hotline. She pointed out that the completion of these requests, since the reliance on providing services remotely in light of the current health conditions after mid‑March until the end of April 2020, reflects the extent of the success of the mechanism followed in providing these services electronically, in addition to the Bahraini citizen’s awareness of the importance of electronic communication to complete his transactions with ease and security. The Ministry of Labour and Social Development has launched its eServices in the labour and social fields, and many electronic forms for requests to obtain services and an explanation of the mechanism for benefiting from them were broadcast on its website, as shown in all the Ministry’s accounts on the official social networking sites mlsdbahrain. It is also possible to communicate with the registration and social services employees via the new electronic mail addresses on the Ministry of Labour and Social Development website www.mlsd.gov.bh. For further enquiries, you can call the free hotline 80008001.
Ministry of Labor and Social Development announces the completion of sterilization of all its buildings and facilities
16-05-2020
In support of national efforts to contain and prevent the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID‑19), the Ministry of Labour and Social Development announced that it has completed the sterilisation of the Ministry’s building and all its affiliated centres across the Kingdom of Bahrain. This is part of a series of preventive measures taken to protect the health and safety of all employees and clients, and to prevent them from contracting the virus. As part of its awareness‑raising efforts to promote a healthy and safe work environment, the Ministry has provided its centres, which provide comprehensive employment, training, unemployment insurance, and social care services to various segments of society in all governorates, with copies of sterilisation guidelines, directing them to sterilise their premises correctly and following up to ensure implementation of the guidelines for combating the Coronavirus (COVID‑19) in the workplace. The Ministry of Labour and Social Development is making strenuous efforts to contain and prevent the spread of the virus by expanding precautionary measures to include all employees and visitors, including daily temperature checks and the provision of hand sanitisers and masks at all Ministry facilities and affiliated centres.
MLSD Minister discusses with the American ambassador the strengthening of cooperation in the labor and development fields
14-05-2020
His Excellency Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, Minister of Labour and Social Development and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, received His Excellency Mr Justin Hicks Siberell, Ambassador of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Bahrain, today, Sunday, at his office at the Ministry. They discussed ways to support and enhance bilateral cooperation between the two friendly countries, focusing on common interests in various fields, especially in the labour and development sectors, to serve the interests of both parties. They also reviewed the latest developments in the global economy. Humaidan emphasised the importance of exchanging expertise in developing labour and social protection systems, adding that the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain is continuously working to develop national legislation related to labour and development issues in a manner consistent with international labour conventions and standards, most notably those related to preserving workers' rights and trade union freedoms, providing decent work for citizens, ensuring a sound work environment, and increasing productivity. For his part, Ambassador Siberell highlighted the depth of the strong historical relations between the two countries and the importance of advancing them towards a broader horizon of joint work and coordination. He praised the Kingdom of Bahrain's advanced systems and legislation that guarantee workers' rights and protection in line with international standards, and commended the ongoing social dialogue between the various production parties in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
MLSD Minister meets the Chairman and members of the Board of Directors of the Alumni Club
10-05-2020
His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Mr Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, met in his office at the Ministry with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Alumni Club, Mr Abdullatif Ahmed Alzayani, in the presence of several members of the club’s Board of Directors. The meeting was held on the occasion of the recent decision of the esteemed Council of Ministers to transfer the affiliation of several clubs, including the Alumni Club, from the umbrella of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs to the Ministry of Labour and Social Development. During the meeting, Alzayani reviewed the club's objectives, activities, efforts and contributions to the cultural and social movement in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and what it intends to implement in the coming period, which contributes to serving the community. He noted the Ministry of Labour and Social Development's support for the club in fulfilling its societal mission, and pointed out the importance of cooperation and joint coordination with the relevant authorities to achieve the goals and objectives that the club seeks to achieve to raise the cultural and literary level in the country. Humaidan commended the role played by the Alumni Club in serving the community, expressing his appreciation for the literary and cultural projects and initiatives implemented by the club to serve and develop members of Bahraini society. He also affirmed the Ministry of Labour and Social Development's continued support for all the club's efforts. He also highlighted the important role of civil society organisations that have contributed and continue to contribute to supporting the social and humanitarian development process in society, driven by a sense of social responsibility. He pointed out that the Ministry is working within an ambitious plan to activate the principle of partnership with civil society institutions, maintain constant communication with them, and provide all types of support that ensure raising and developing their level. He also emphasised the esteemed government's support and continuous backing of all civil society institutions in all fields, and removing obstacles that prevent them from achieving their goals.
Undersecretary Assistant of Labor Affairs meets representatives of Indian associations
05-05-2020
The Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Affairs at the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, Mr. Ahmed Jaafar Al Hayki, met in his office with Mr.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Development carries out (671) online transactions for private training institutions
03-05-2020
Within the framework of activating the feature of providing government services to citizens remotely, and in implementation of preventive measures and precautionary measures to limit the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Ministry of Labour and Social Development completed (671) various electronic transactions directed to private training institutions, which fall under the supervision of the Ministry, during the period from March 9 to the end of April 2020. The eServices provided by the Ministry of Labour and Social Development to various private training institutions supervised by the Ministry cover a wide range of areas, including requests for training programme licences, trainer licences, certificate certification requests, establishing a private training institution, and following up on requests for new training institutions. They also include receiving requests for the appointment of a director for the training institution or those authorised to sign, renewing the licence of the institute or training centre, or changing its name, in addition to requests for the cancellation of licences for any training institution, and receiving and resolving trainee grievances in coordination with the relevant authorities. In this context, the Director of the Department of Vocational Institutes Affairs at the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, Mr. Ahmed Jaafar Miftah, said that during the mentioned period, the department renewed and followed up on training licences for (40) establishments, in addition to following up on (16) new licence applications and applications under study, while (20) transactions were completed and followed up on to employ a manager and follow up on institutions practising training without a licence, while the transactions and follow-ups of licensed programmes amounted to (79) transactions, in addition to issuing licences for (21) new trainers, as well as approving (51) certificates, while (40) transactions remained under study, and (400) enquiries were answered remotely related to issuing training licences or licensed programmes or what is related to clarifications on the relevant circulars and decisions. (4) circulars were also sent to private training institutions related to following the Ministry of Health’s instructions in disinfecting and sterilising the training institution’s headquarters and taking the necessary precautions to contribute to limiting the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and urging these institutions to move towards virtual training in order to ensure the continuation of the training process remotely during the training suspension period while ensuring compliance with a set of conditions and directives issued to it in this regard, which ensures the continuation of the process of remote monitoring and follow-up by the Ministry as well as the relevant official bodies such as the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) and the Education and Training Quality Authority. In this context, Mr. Miftah emphasised the importance of adopting this type of training at the current stage, and placing it within future trends that will position the Kingdom of Bahrain as a leader in the field of distance learning and training, based on clear frameworks that guarantee the quality of the training provided. He noted that this approach represents an opportunity to develop vocational training, making the Kingdom a pioneer in the types of future sciences offered within virtual training. Private training institutes and centres can contact the Ministry to obtain licences for training programmes and trainers by visiting the Ministry’s website www.mlsd.gov.bh, by sending requests and enquiries to eid@mlsd.gov.bh or by calling 17873669, 17863902, or 17873710, or the hotline 80008001. Regarding the request to establish a private training institution and follow up on requests for new institutions, please visit the Ministry’s website above, or via email tpi@mlsd.gov.bh, or by calling the following numbers: 17873676, 17873803, 17873934, or through the aforementioned hotline. Among the new eServices recently launched by the Ministry is the possibility for institutions wishing to appoint a new manager, change the ownership or training headquarters, change the name of a training institution, cancel an institution’s licence, or add a new training field. This can be done by logging into the Ministry’s website, via email to tpi@mlsd.gov.bh, or by calling the following phones: 17873803, 17873706, 17873938, or by calling the hotline 80008001. The Institute Affairs Department receives complaints and grievances from trainees from various licensed training institutions, which are resolved in coordination with the relevant authorities. Trainees can file a grievance using the Tawasul website, the Ministry’s website, email tpi@mlsd.gov.bh, call the following numbers: 17873667, 17873934, or 17873731, or call the hotline 80008001.
MLSD Minister word on the occasion of International Workers' Day
03-05-2020
The Kingdom of Bahrain joins the world in commemorating International Workers' Day, which falls on 1 May of each year. The Kingdom of Bahrain has traditionally celebrated this prestigious occasion with the world's countries, marking it as an official holiday due to the international values it represents, in which the international community appreciates the achievements and contributions of the working class to construction and development. History confirms the pivotal and long-standing role of the working class in the triangle of the three parties of production (workers, employers, governments). On this occasion, His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Mr Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, affirmed the great appreciation of the leadership in the Kingdom of Bahrain, represented by the generous care that Bahraini workers receive from the leader of our comprehensive development journey, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, may God protect and preserve him, and guide his steps on the path of goodness, as His Majesty the King has been keen throughout the previous years to include Bahraini workers under His Majesty’s care and attention, may God protect and preserve him, on all occasions and under all circumstances. Humaidan said that this royal interest is clearly evident in His Majesty the King’s patronage of the annual celebrations held by the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions and the Free Bahrain Trade Union Federation on International Workers’ Day. Through these celebrations, the values of work and production are celebrated, and distinguished elites of Bahrain’s workers are honoured, under a royal patronage that embodies His Majesty the King’s constant appreciation for the effective, persevering and giving national arms, and His Majesty’s wishes, may God protect and preserve him, for further development and prosperity, thanks to the efforts and cooperation of all those loyal to this good land. His Excellency the Minister also noted the keenness of the esteemed government, headed by His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, may God protect him, to provide all support to workers and ensure the preservation of their rights and job stability. In this context, he referred to His Highness’s generous gesture on the occasion of International Workers’ Day during the Cabinet session last Monday, in which he praised the achievements of Bahraini workers in the development process and their role in building and developing the nation. He stressed that this gesture truly expresses the full appreciation of workers in various production sites, pointing to the continuous support and assistance that workers receive from His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, may God protect him, who places the development of the labour market at the forefront of national priorities, ensuring the provision of quality and appropriate job opportunities for citizens. On this occasion, Humaidan paid tribute to the dear workers of the Kingdom of Bahrain, who are writing with their hands the epic of prosperity in our beloved country, and lighting the torches of the production movement on this generous land in all circumstances and times, and from various work and production sites, in an epic of giving and loyalty that never dries up or runs out. “This important global occasion comes to us this year as the world faces an exceptional challenge in combating the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), as many global workforces from various locations unite to combat the spread of this virus, whether by standing on the front lines within medical, security and administrative teams responsible for treating existing cases and educating and organising communities to limit the spread of the virus and its repercussions on individuals and societies, or by taking their roles in various work and production sites to maintain production capacity and continue to ensure the provision of basic needs of consumer goods, medical equipment and supplies, and other living needs despite these exceptional, transient circumstances that the entire world is experiencing,” Humaidan said. Humaidan touched on the Kingdom of Bahrain’s efforts in this regard, stressing that Bahrain has once again proven, through the unprecedented measures and steps taken at the global level to deal with this global crisis, that it is, as always, at the forefront of distinguished countries in implementing exceptional initiatives to protect all residents on its soil, especially with regard to providing a safe and sound work environment and preserving workers’ rights without any discrimination. In this context, he praised the directives of His Majesty the King, the great King of the country, may God protect and preserve him, to take a series of economic measures that contribute to the stability and steadiness of the labour market in light of the exceptional circumstances the country is experiencing. These measures included the launch of a financial and economic package worth 4.3 billion Bahraini dinars to confront the repercussions of the global spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) at the local level. These included paying the wages of Bahraini workers in the private sector, who number more than 100,000 insured Bahrainis in the private sector, for a period of three months, allocating two portfolios to support taxi drivers, public transport drivers, buses and coaches, and paying the full salaries of female workers in kindergartens and nurseries for a period of three months, as well as redirecting all Labour Fund (Tamkeen) programmes to support affected companies, which contributes to achieving job stability for the national workforce. Humaidan stressed that the esteemed government has paid increasing attention to strengthening workers’ rights and providing them with a safe and healthy environment. It has adopted precautionary measures to protect workers at workplaces and workers’ housing to limit the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), as part of an integrated government plan in which all relevant authorities participated. He pointed to the intensive efforts made by the Ministry of Labour and Social Development to keep the work environment free from the virus, including communicating with employers to adhere to the instructions issued by the Ministry of Health and other official authorities in the Kingdom, which would protect public health at workplaces and workers’ housing, as well as issuing an administrative circular to all establishments operating in the private sector, which constitutes a procedural guide to prevent this pandemic. Humaidan stressed that despite the intensification of comprehensive national efforts within the Bahraini team to combat this virus, the Ministry of Labour and Social Development continues to implement its strategies and plans aimed at providing job opportunities for citizens, within the framework of the government’s efforts to attract more investments and support the business environment as the primary financier of jobs in the labour market in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He also stressed the need to develop national legislation to keep pace with changes in the labour market, in addition to strengthening the training system to keep pace with developments and to align with the general strategy and ongoing employment plans and programmes, to make Bahraini citizens the best choice for employers when hiring, and to maintain unemployment rates within their natural and reassuring limits. This is achieved through several paths, represented by creating an ideal training infrastructure, in addition to providing many benefits and incentives for employers and job seekers. In conclusion, Humaidan stressed that we, as production parties, are all called upon to work as one team to face various challenges and continue the path of construction and development to achieve more gains and accomplishments for the Kingdom of Bahrain. 1 May is an occasion to affirm the determination of the Kingdom of Bahrain, its leadership, government and people, to continue working and giving to drive the economy with steady steps towards growth and prosperity and overcome all difficulties, in order to achieve prosperity, strength and economic and social security for our dear country, and to preserve its gains and accomplishments at various levels.
MLSD Minister: The flexible work permit does not entitle its holder to open a commercial registry or employ others
01-05-2020
Minister of Labour and Social Development and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, Mr. Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, affirmed that the flexible work permit does not entitle its holder to issue a commercial registration, employ others, sponsor workers, or engage in any other practices that require a commercial registration. He emphasised that the flexible permit does not constitute actual competition for citizens' commercial or professional activities. Humaidan said there is renewed misunderstanding regarding flexible work permits (Flexi Permit) and whether they are regular employers operating their business normally, noting the importance of relying on correct understanding and legal text rather than relying on the apparent meaning of the term. He explained that Labour Market Regulatory Authority Law No. 19 of 2006 includes definitions for three categories, namely: Employer: Any natural or juristic person who employs one worker or more to perform a certain job in return of a wage of any kind, fixed or variable, in cash or in kind, which includes any government entity; establishment, public authority, corporation, office, institution or any other private business entities. Worker: Any natural person who works in return of a wage of any kind, fixed or variable, in cash or in kind who works for an employer and under his management or supervision. Foreign Employer: Any natural foreign person who does not fall within the definition of worker according to the provisions of this law and who carries out work in the Kingdom, whether in his own name and on his own account or in the name or on behalf of another. Humaidan said: The legal name for a flexible work permit is a foreign employer who owns a trade or profession and works for himself. It has been given the media name “flexible” to distinguish between the employer and the worker, due to the similarity that may arise between the two terms, and to facilitate its definition to foreigners and the general public. Humaidan emphasised that in official correspondence and communications with the legislative authority, we are obligated to use legal terminology because it is the basis. Experts and interested parties should base their opinions, positions, and visions on a correct understanding and avoid basing their views on superficial understandings. Humaidan reiterated that talk of flexible workers competing with Bahraini traders is unrealistic and has no real basis, and is legally invalid due to the inability of the worker to obtain a commercial registration or to recruit and sponsor workers. He continued: The Flexi Permit is also issued to those who practise non‑specialised professional activities that Bahrainis do not usually seek. Humaidan explained that there is an important point worth noting regarding the benefits of launching the flexible permit, as we can address a number of important points. He pointed out that from an economic perspective, this permit contributes to creating sufficient flexibility for the private sector to use temporary workers to perform some emergency work, which contributes to reducing the need to attract additional workers from abroad to perform exceptional work. There are also other important advantages, some of which can be addressed, including the state's enforcement of the law, the creation of a database, and communication with all workers in the Kingdom by collecting data on flexible and regular workers. Furthermore, it brings illegal workers, who meet the conditions for granting flexible work permits, out of the shadows and into the light. He stressed that issuing the Flexi Permit includes obligating the flexible worker to pay healthcare fees (health insurance), thus sparing society from any diseases that could result from irregular workers not receiving appropriate treatment.
MLSD Minister invites training institutes and centers to go to online training
01-05-2020
His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Mr Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, met in his office at the Ministry's headquarters with the Chairman of the Bahrain Society of Private Training Institutes (BSPTI), Mr Nawaf Mohammed Al‑Jishi, in the presence of the Society's Board of Directors. During the meeting, the efforts of the Bahrain Society of Private Training Institutes (BSPTI) were reviewed to contribute to the advancement of this vital sector and assist private training institutions in overcoming the challenges they face. The meeting also reviewed the programmes and activities planned for the upcoming period and discussed ways to enhance technical cooperation between the Ministry of Labour and Social Development and the Society to achieve their goals and joint contributions, most notably advancing the development of human resources and the national workforce in private sector establishments. Humaidan emphasised the important role played by private training institutes and centres and their contribution to developing the personal capabilities and professional skills of national cadres. He noted in this context that the esteemed government pays special attention to vocational training, which opens up broad prospects for preparing and integrating citizens into various productive sectors of the labour market. He added that the government's strategy in this regard aims to develop and enhance training services in the Kingdom to create an integrated training industry that strengthens Bahrain's position as a regional centre for training and human resources development. In this context, Humaidan called on training institutions to shift towards virtual training and place it within current and future trends, positioning the Kingdom of Bahrain as a leader in the field of distance learning and training, according to clear frameworks that guarantee the quality of training. He noted that this approach represents an opportunity to develop vocational training and ensure the needs of job seekers in various sectors are met. For his part, Al‑Jishi praised the efforts of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development and its continuous support for the Bahrain Society of Private Training Institutes (BSPTI) and private training institutions, which contributes to overcoming any difficulties that may face training institutes and centres. In this context, he stressed the BSPTI's full readiness to enhance cooperation with partners, harness joint national efforts to develop training fields, and ensure that private training institutes provide quality training programmes that are internationally accredited and of added value to the trainee, keeping pace with the requirements and developments of the labour market and rapid technological and scientific developments.