February 26, 2020
Both company management and government officials encouraged migrants to continue working without pay on state projects but broke promises to settle their wages upon completion. 52 workers remain stuck in derelict camp while they fight to recoup between six and 18 months worths of wages, as well as their end-of-service benefits.
February 17, 2020
Nearly 30,000 migrant workers have signed up for a Flexi-Permit, but higher fees, unclear regulations, and growing opposition prevent the scheme from functioning as a viable alternative to the Kafala system.
January 23, 2020
A new initiative by the Bahraini government aims to streamline complaint procedures for migrant workers. But how far can it go to help workers overcome barriers to justice?
November 14, 2019
A recently proposed bill would require migrants to work for three years before being able to transfer jobs without their employer's permission.
November 3, 2019
In one-to-one interviews and focus groups, female migrant workers in Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain recounted their experiences with violence in the workplace and how they navigated formal and informal grievance mechanisms. Through their insights, we aim to provide a better understanding of the current status quo and offer recommendations to prevent and improve government response to gender-based violence. Using Feminist Participatory Action Research methods, the report’s findings and recommendations are predominantly those of the participants.
October 24, 2019
The economic downturn hit Bahrain’s construction sector hard and exacerbated the already rampant practice of delayed and unpaid wages. Costs and losses are passed on to the most vulnerable – the migrant workers at the end of the supply chain.
September 26, 2019
A lack of awareness of their rights, and a perceived lack of options, keep Bahrain's agricultural workers in a rut
October 14, 2018
Bahrain’s cabinet has recently revised the summer midday work ban for employees working outdoors under the sun, reducing it from three months to two and a half months.
Bahrain’s Labour Market Regulatory Authority has announced the introduction of six-month work permits for migrant workers already residing in Bahrain. This new permit option complements the existing one- and two-year permits, but is not available to workers newly recruited from abroad.
The Bahraini government has ordered public hospitals to refer migrant women to private hospitals for childbirth, with few exceptions. The move is part of a broader trend in recent years to exclude migrants from accessing public services.
Bahrain recently introduced a decision allowing employers who hire workers with invalid or expired work permits to pay reduced fines instead of facing criminal charges. Additionally, migrant workers without valid permits can avoid conviction and deportation by paying a fine.
Starting next year, Bahrain will join other Gulf States in extending its summer midday work ban to three months, following a decision by the Bahraini Cabinet. The ban will now run from June 15 to September 15, replacing the previous two-month period.