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No Work Permits to be Issued by Bahrain to Citizens from these Countries

Bahrain stated on Sunday that it will temporarily suspend granting work permits to individuals from the red list nations in order to assist curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, according to local media.

The decision, issued by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, is based on the orders and recommendations of the Kingdom’s national coronavirus taskforce. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal are among the countries on the red list.

Citizens from these Countries in Bahrain’s Red List Won’t be Issued Any Work Permits

According to the new rule, the authority would temporarily halt the granting of new work permits to nationals of red-list countries who are currently residing outside of Bahrain, since the Kingdom has recently recorded a daily increase in COVID-19 instances, the Gulf News reported.

However, Bahraini citizens and residence visa holders are not affected by the ban, but will be required to undergo a PCR test before boarding a plane and will be quarantined for 10 days upon arriving, according to BNA.

Bahrain will also apply a 10-day precautionary quarantine to vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals from all other countries, either at their homes or in places licensed for quarantining, according to the state news agency.

In the Kingdom, 931 new coronavirus cases and 10 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours. This increases the total number of cases to 257,852 and the number of deaths to 1,206.

Bahrain acknowledged that nations on their red list are added or deleted based on a frequent review and that the list is thus updated on a regular basis.

Bahrain Launches Wage Protection System

The kingdom of Bahrain has officially put into effect the phased system that aims to protect the wages of private-sector employees and limit labor disputes.

According to the country’s labor regulator, the first stage of the system went into effect as of May with a wide response from the targeted employers.

Wage Protection System Now in Effect in Bahrain

The current phase targets employers of 500 workers or more. Around 92 per cent of the employers covered by the first phase of the scheme, unveiled in March, have complied, according to Bahrain’s Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), the Gulf News reported.

“The Authority has been keen to facilitate all procedures related to joining this system,” LMRA Executive Chairman Jamal Abdulaziz said.

With this, he pointed out that the employer has to open accounts for all his registered employees, citizens and expatriates alike, at a commercial bank or a financial corporation licensed by the central bank without having to show up in person at LMRA.

“Nearly 92 per cent of the employers targeted in the first phase have partially joined the wage protection system, i.e. they paid the majority of labour wages through this system. The LMRA keeps contacting the employers directly to emphasize the full commitment to pay wages of their registered wages,” he added.

In relation to this, employers are given a six-month grace period for implementation for follow-up and eliminating any difficulties in registering through the same, according to the official.

Explaining the oversight process, Abdulaziz shared: “Commitment to this system ensures transferring workers’ wages into their bank accounts regularly and as scheduled, thus consolidating transparency and oversight process. It supports expediting settlement of any wage-related dispute.”

Meanwhile, the second phase of the scheme takes effect as of September 1, covering employers of 50 up to 449 workers, while the third covering employers of one to 49 workers, will come into effect on January 1 next year.

In line with this, the system applies on an optional basis to domestic workers’ employers. The arrangement is hoped to curb illegal labour in Bahrain.

According to the announcement, the system will also be beneficial to employers as it helps maintain a stable professional environment and business growth.

Bahrain Rolls Out Digital Vaccine Passport

The Kingdom of Bahrain announced on Wednesday (February 17) that it has launched its own digital ‘vaccine passport’ for citizens.

The move aims to help the Gulf country determine whether using digital ‘vaccine passports’ would work well for them. This also puts the kingdom among one of the first countries to do so. Governments and developers around the world are exploring how certificates and passports could help to reopen economies by identifying those protected against COVID-19.

App to Monitor COVID-19 Vaccination Status Launched in Bahrain

Each citizen who gets jabbed with two doses of the vaccine, 21 days apart, will get their official vaccination certificate after two weeks which can be viewed through Bahrain’s “BeAware” app, The Independent reported.

The app is equipped with a unique QR code per person that is connected to Bahrain’s vaccine registry.

Besides the certificate, the app also shows the user’s personal details, as well as the brand of vaccine received.

Bahrain offers four vaccines free to its citizens, including Russia’s Sputnik V, AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Sinopharm.

Earlier, Denmark also expressed its intent to launch the country’s own digital ‘vaccine passport’ to check if the traveler has been inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine, with the hopes of opening up tourism in their country.

Sweden also aims to launch a vaccine passport by summer, assuming there is an international standard in place for the document by then, the government said two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, countries such as Romania, Seychelles, and Estonia said that they will accept individuals who can prove that they have been injected with the COVID-19 jab.

WATCH: F1 Driver Climbs Out of Burning Car After Crash at Bahrain Grand Prix

F1 Driver Romain Grosjean barely escaped a horrific crash, which has set his vehicle in shambles and a large fire, with only minor injuries during an accident at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

ALSO READ: Man Escapes Death as Car Hits Wall in Saudi

A Formula One doctor has also revealed that the Frenchman’s helmet visor melted while he was still inside his burning car at the Bahrain Grand Prix last Sunday (November 30).

F1 Driver Escapes Burning Car After Horrific Crash at Bahrain Grand Prix

The race had been terminated on lap one after Grosjean moved across the track and collided with Daniil Kvyat’s AlphaTauri before spearing off the track, the Daily Mail UK reported.

In videos circulating on social media, Grosjean’s vehicle was badly damaged after the crash that it immediately burst into flames.

Marshalls and the medical car was seen rushing to the site of the accident to aid Grosjean, who miraculously climbed out of the burning vehicle as marshals and safety officials began putting the fire out.

Check out the Frenchman’s miraculous escape from his burning vehicle at the Bahrain Grand Prix in this video posted by Cole Harvey / YouTube:

The race had been immediately red-flagged and the other drivers filed around the track and headed back into the pit lane.

After the incident, Haas released a statement confirming that Grosjean suffered burns and was being checked by medical staff.

Grosjean’s team also released an update saying: “Romain has some minor burns on his hands and ankles but otherwise he is ok. He is with the doctors just now.”

They also added that the Frenchman had been sent to the hospital with suspected broken rib(s), while the FIA confirmed Grosjean was conscious throughout the incident.

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton won the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Bahrain to be Among the First Nations to Receive Coronavirus Vaccine

A top-ranking official at the BDF Hospital, on Tuesday (Nov. 10), announced that the kingdom as per the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, and First Deputy Prime Minister, will be among the first countries in the world to receive the coronavirus vaccine.

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H.H. Prince Al Khalifa has instructed the government to set proactive plans to deal with the coronavirus since the announcement of its global outbreak.

Residents of Bahrain to be Among the First Recipients of COVID Vaccine – Report

According to Dr. Al Qahtani, who’s also a member of the National Taskforce for Combating Covid-19, the government is mobilizing all of its capabilities and resources to address the pandemic in a way that ensures the health and safety of citizens and residents in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Khaleej Times reported.

Al Qahtani added that the National Taskforce, led by Supreme Council for Health (SCH) President Lieutenant-General Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, is monitoring the developments in coronavirus vaccines to take the necessary proactive steps.

Al Qahtani revealed that the kingdom has placed an order back in August to purchase more than 1 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccines being developed by BioNTech and Pfizer; the British firm AstraZeneca, and China’s Sinopharm.

Moreover, Bahrain in coordination with the UAE has participated in the Phase 3 clinical trial for a potential Covid-19 vaccine, being developed by Sinopharm.

He added that the selection of the aforementioned vaccines was made by the National Taskforce for Combating Covid-19 after following up on the developments of the vaccine trials across the world.

In line with this, the kingdom is continuously in contact with other pharmaceutical companies that are developing the potential Covid-19 vaccine.

Dr. Al Qahtani also noted that the kingdom assures its residents that it would be among the first countries in the world to provide the vaccines as soon as one is accredited by the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) and international health organizations.

He explained that relevant authorities had established plans to provide the vaccine to citizens and residents easily and conveniently and in accordance with the best global health practices in this field.

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Anti-Trafficking Laws in the Middle East

There are millions of foreign workers living and working in the Middle East, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and other expats. When it comes to human trafficking, they can always turn to the embassies or diplomatic missions of their home countries.

In addition, foreign workers can also seek help from the government of the host countries themselves. Pursuant to anti-trafficking laws in each country, there are organizations, shelters, and other related agencies that work hand-in-hand in fighting against human trafficking crimes.

Combating Human Trafficking in the Middle East

In today’s post, we take a look at how some countries in the Middle East — particularly the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi, and Qatar — have been combating human trafficking and related crimes.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The UAE has introduced several anti-trafficking laws over the years, starting with Federal Law No. 51 of 2006, which was later amended by Federal Law No. 1 of 2015. The law imposes a minimum fine of AED 100,000 at least five years in jail for perpetrators of human trafficking.

In 2007, the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT) was established to coordinate efforts across the seven emirates. The government has also established Ewa’a Shelters all over the country to care for women and children who are victims of sexual abuse and human trafficking.

In the emirate of Sharjah, the Women’s Protection Centre of the Social Services Department of the Government of Sharjah launched a website and toll free number (800-800-700), which anyone can call for help. The centre provides legal, social, and psychological counseling, and even family consultations for domestic abuse cases.

Likewise, in the emirate of Dubai, the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children (DFWAC) was established in 2007 as the first licensed, non-profit shelter in the country for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, abuse, and human trafficking crimes.

As for the Dubai Police, they have a General Directorate for Human Rights Protection, which provides legal, social, and psychological support to human trafficking victims. The agency also offers temporary shelter and temporary visas to victims who need support until they can return to their home countries.

The Dubai Police has also established the Human Trafficking Crime Control Centre, which accepts calls through +971 4 608 2347 and through the following contact details:

Human trafficking cases hotline: 8007283
Labour complaints hotline: 8005005
Fax number: +971 4 217 1644
Email address: [email protected].

Kingdom of Bahrain

To combat human trafficking, the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) in Bahrain has established a national trafficking hotline, centre, and shelter for victims of trafficking in persons.

Victims — as well as witnesses — of human trafficking are encouraged to call the national trafficking hotline, 995. They can also go directly to Northern Sehla, where they will find the Expat Protection Centre and Shelter.

The Expat Protection Centre and Shelter was established in 2015 by the LMRA, as part of the Bahrain government’s commitment to protecting and preserving the rights of overseas workers in the Kingdom. The functions of the centre include the following:

Identification, support, and follow-up of human trafficking victims and cases;
Provision of complete services to victims as well as potential victims of human trafficking; and
Provision of legal counseling, medical services, and mental health services to victims.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Pursuant to Council of Ministers Decision No. 207 of 12th September 2005, Saudi Arabia established the Human Rights Commission (HRC), which is the government body responsible for issuing advice and opinion on human rights matters in the Kingdom.

In 2009, pursuant to Council of Ministers Decision No. 244, Saudi Arabia also established the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Committee, which is headquartered at the HRC.

More recently, in 2019, Saudi government, through the HRC and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Committee, met with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to sign a memorandum of understanding on the prevention of human trafficking. In the same year, the committee held a meeting with IOM, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and other government agencies.

During the meeting, they discussed several measures for preventing and addressing human trafficking cases. These measures include the provision of technical and administrative expertise on the part of UNODC, as well as the establishment of legal, financial, and moral support services for the victims of human trafficking.

Kingdom of Qatar

Pursuant to Decree Law No. 38 for 2002, the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) in the Kingdom of Bahrain was established. It was later re-organized in accordance to Decree Law No. 17 for 2010, thus confirming the committee as a permanent official body that addresses human trafficking crimes.

In addition, the Kingdom has introduced other related laws: Law No. 21 for 2011 on Human Trafficking; Law No. 21 for 2015, which put an end to Bahrain’s Kafala system; and Law No. 15 for 2017, which pertains to the rights and protection of domestic workers. Moreover, the National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking (NCCHT) was also established.

The NCCHT opened the Human Care Centre last year. Notably, this centre offers:

Help and protection for human trafficking victims;
Assistance in the victims’ rehabilitation and integration into society; and
Temporary employment until the victim is able to return to his/her home country.

Victims of human trafficking are encouraged to file complaints through the NCCHT website as well as through Qatar’s security department. The different departments work hand-in-hand, placing the victim at the Human Care Centre and providing extensive assistance including legal, financial, and moral support services.

If you are a foreign worker in the Middle East, or a job-seeker planning to work in the region, make sure that you know the anti-trafficking laws in your host or target country. By keeping them in mind, you become more aware of your rights as a person and as an employee, and you will know how to act when such rights are being violated — yours as well as those of your fellow workers.

DISCLAIMER: The above guide is presented for information-sharing purposes only. To know more about anti-trafficking laws and programs in the said countries, please visit the UAE Government Portal or the official websites of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) in Bahrain, the Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Saudi Arabia, and the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) in Qatar.

PH Embassy in Bahrain Ready to Repatriate OFWs Amid Tensions in Region

Despite the lull on the issue between the US and Iran following the former’s bombing of the latter’s US bases in Iraq, the Philippine Embassy in Bahrain has assured Filipinos based in the Kingdom of Bahrain that the government is prepared for their repatriation should the need arise, following the recent tensions rising in the Middle East.

On the weekend following the death of Qasem Soleimani, the powerful commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force, the US is bracing for possible retaliatory actions by Iran.

Embassy Prepared to Take In, Repatriate OFWs Amid Ongoing Tension in the Region

An advisory released by the Philippine Embassy in Bahrain on its Facebook page said Filipinos based in these areas are given assurance that the Philippine Government is “prepared to repatriate any Filipino who may be affected or displaced by the ongoing developments in the region.”

In line with this, the Embassy further stated that affected Filipinos requesting repatriation or any form of assistance may contact them through their Assistance-to-Nationals Section at 1772-1234 (landline), 3995-3235 (hotline), or [email protected].

Meanwhile, the Philippines’ special envoy to the Middle East, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, on January 9 (Thursday) said the government will continue to plan for the repatriation of Overseas Filipino Workers in the Middle East despite a seeming easing to the tension in the region.

Cimatu gave an update as to the repatriation activities amid Washington’s call for de-escalation in the region after a wave of missile attacks on US bases by Iran, which prompted the highest alert level for Filipinos living in Iraq, Iran, and Lebanon.

He shared, “Assuming Baghdad is closed, they will go to Erbil but there is no direct flight to Manila so they will have to fly to Qatar and Dubai (in the United Arab Emirates)“.

Further giving insight to the situation, Cimatu revealed that the worst-case scenario for the ongoing repatriation efforts would be for US bases in and around Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar to be targeted.

He also admitted that the situation is unpredictable, and sometimes there are some instances of a very surprise missile attack.

Despite the ongoing repatriation efforts in the region, Cimatu shared that the Embassies in the Middle East cannot account for undocumented OFWs. “We don’t know where are they, but we can communicate with them through their families here in the Philippines,” he said.

And finally, the Philippine Embassy also sent a word of caution to Filipinos in Bahrain to continue being vigilant, to exercise caution, and to maintain situational awareness at all times.

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Bahrain to Ban Use of Plastic Table Rolls

As calls for environmental reforms are becoming more pronounced more than ever, the Kingdom of Bahrain has approved a resolution that will ban table plastic rolls, which are non-biodegradable, starting next year, as announced by the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE).

According to the SCE, the second phase of the ministerial resolution aims to curb the amount of plastic used in the Kingdom, which has an adverse effect on the environment.

Soon, Plastic Table Rolls to be Banned in Bahrain

The said initiative is expected to be rolled out in July of next year. Aside from plastic table rolls, more items will be included in the second phase of the ban and will be announced later, as shared in a report by the Bahrain Daily Tribune.

In line with the directives of the Government Executive Committee chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa – and pursuant of the Ministerial Committee for Urbanisation and Infrastructure’s Order Number (7-731-2019), which deals with the regulation and reduction of plastic usage, the Ministerial Order Number (11) of 2019 with respect to the technical regulations for plastic products has been put into effect last July.

According to the SCE, companies that need to continue using plastic bags for their day-to-day operations will need to apply for a license.

In line with this, non-biodegradable garbage bags have also been banned since last month. The new non-biodegradable garbage bags, which will soon replace the plastic bags will also not come at additional costs to the public, the Council reassured.

Meanwhile, a study piloted by the SCE revealed that the transition to eco-friendly and biodegradable garbage bags will not affect the plastic products manufacturing sector in the kingdom.

It’s interesting to learn that a small country such as Bahrain is taking big steps in protecting the environment.

With laws already establishing a system that is more attuned to the needs of the planet, hopefully, more people will also support the cause by adopting some lifestyle changes which are geared towards preserving the environment and being more conscious of the choices we make in our everyday living.

By saying “no” to single-use plastics, we can spare our environment several hundreds of years of toxic problems, which would ultimately, come back to us, as well as the future generation.

By showing our simple support to the campaigns launched by the government in relation to preserving the environment, we are already showing our willingness to be part of the change, which we owe the future generation.

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Gulf Air Appoints First Bahraini Woman to Lead African Arm

The Middle East is seeing an important transition from its traditionally male-centric society, which is heavily seen in countries such as Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.

With laws and advocacies now focused on gender equality, more opportunities are being opened to women, even in professions which were traditionally assigned to men. And this is a very good thing because as most of these countries are heavily committed to their nationalisation programmes, giving women a chance to work in their field of expertise or passion.

First Bahraini Woman Appointed to Lead Gulf Air Operations in Africa

In relation to this, Bahrain’s national carrier Gulf Air has appointed its first local female country manager earlier this month, as shared in a report by Bahrain Today.

The airline has named Shams Al Doseri to manage its Addis Ababa station in Ethiopia, making her the first Bahraini woman to run a Gulf Air station.

Doseri first started as a sales executive at the company, and has eight years of airline sales experience under her belt with Gulf Air. For her appointment, she expressed gratitude to the airline for believing in her capacity to strengthen its growth in Africa.

In a statement, Doseri shared, “I am very proud and delighted to take this challenge and be the first Bahraini woman in Gulf Air to represent the national carrier outside the Kingdom. I will not only promote my airline but also promote my beloved country to the world by encouraging more passengers to fly Gulf Air to or via Bahrain.”

For its part, Gulf Air has expressed commitment to invest in Bahrain locals of any gender, providing opportunity for their talents and career development in its various areas of operation. Bahrainis comprise around 90 percent of its workforce, and 70 percent of their pilots are locals as well.

This is a positive affirmation that the work of the governments in the Middle East are changing the landscape of labour and employment, where skills and talents take precedence over gender and societal rigidities that have long governed many of its nations in the past.

As these countries move forward towards this important period and change, residents and global citizens will continue to hope and show support in these nations’ endeavour in the future, and even consider lending assistance through sharing best practices and benchmarking to promote gender equality and inclusivity in the workforce and then the society, at large.

ALSO READ: Saudi Fund Invests on Women Empowerment in Kingdom

Bahrain to Implement New Wages Scheme Starting September

Bahrain to Implement Much-Delayed New Wages Scheme Starting September

Elsewhere in the world, labour and worker benefit systems are constantly being improved in order to meet international standards, because when they do, this usually means better working conditions and environment for workers regardless of their nationality, country of origin, and so on.

In the Middle East though, these systems are often consulted and based on the standards set by the Gulf Cooperation Council, under which countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, the UAE, and Bahrain are affiliated to. The Council decides standards that affect economic activities in the region such as imposing taxes in response to the oil crisis that have affected the region in recent years.

New Wage Scheme Soon to be Rolled Out in Bahrain

In relation to this, Bahrain will implement its much-delayed new wage system from September, meaning employers will have to transfer employees’ salaries directly into their bank accounts, as ashared in a report by Gulf News.

The Wage Protection System (WPS), whch has been launched last year has yet to be put into effect in order to give retail banks and providers more time to prepare for the management of the scheme.

According to Ausamah Al Absi, chief executive of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), they are now in the administrative phase and are expecting the WPS to be rolled out by the end of summer.

Al Absi further explained that the first phase of the scheme will cover all big companies, followed by small companies and then domestic workers in the country.

The entire process could take over a year, until all domestic workers are also covered under the new scheme.

The WPS will mean that employees will no longer be paid in cash but will receive their wages directly into their bank accounts through digital technology and advanced banking facilities.

With this transition soon to be implemented in the kingdom, the opportunity for migrant workers to be exploited by unethical employers will be managed more systematically, putting a solution to the vulnerabilities of the long-standing sponsorship or kafala system in most countries in the Middle East.

However, for the new system of wage protection or improved wage record-keeping to make marked impact across all sectors in the working society, there needs to be strong digital and banking technologies, to ensure that opportunities for exploitation of the system from the end of employers as well as third-parties (banking sector), will be pre-empted and duly addressed as the system is standardised across the Kingdom.

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