27-04-2021

His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Chairman of the Occupational Safety and Health Council, Mr. Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, affirmed that the Kingdom of Bahrain’s advanced national laws and legislation relating to the protection of workers from all forms of accidents, injuries, and occupational diseases have contributed to strengthening a safe and sound working environment — a key requirement for economic growth. He noted that the esteemed Government, headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may God protect him, continues to place growing importance on raising occupational safety and health standards across all production sites, in order to protect the workforce from risks, accidents, and occupational injuries. In a statement marking the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, observed annually on 28 April, Humaidan stated that the year 2020 witnessed a 13% decrease in occupational accident rates compared to the previous year — with 266 occupational accidents recorded at workplaces, down from 307 in the year before. This decline reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the importance of implementing occupational safety and health standards across all workplaces. He noted that, as part of its oversight role, the Ministry inspected workplaces covering 198,000 workers in the private sector to ensure compliance with established safety requirements. Humaidan emphasised that reinforcing preventive measures, monitoring occupational safety and health supervisors at workplaces, selecting appropriate machinery and technologies, and ensuring workers use personal protective equipment are all essential to preventing unfortunate workplace incidents. On this occasion, the Minister called upon employers to take the World Day for Safety and Health at Work as a renewed opportunity to enhance worker protection at every level and to further develop occupational safety systems. He noted that doing so contributes to preserving and advancing human capital within a safe and stable labour market — ultimately strengthening productivity and operational performance within establishments. In this context, he highlighted the Ministry’s intensified supervisory and inspection efforts at work sites, its continued follow-up on developing relevant national legislation, and its commitment to preparing and rehabilitating additional national cadres specialised in occupational safety and health. His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development noted that, like other countries, Bahrain has faced a significant challenge since the beginning of 2020 in the form of the Coronavirus pandemic. The Government has taken targeted measures to address the workplace pandemic, with the Minister highlighting the contribution of the Ministry’s inspection teams in monitoring employers’ compliance with occupational safety and health requirements in both workers’ accommodations and workplaces. These efforts also included strengthening establishments’ implementation of precautionary guidelines. Such measures have earned recognition from international organisations, particularly from labour-exporting countries.