Labour Minister highlights Bahrain’s strides in addressing trafficking in persons

Manama : Labour Minister, Board of Directors Chairman of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, has affirmed that the kingdom has made major strides in consolidating its integrated human rights system.
 
This is the fruitful outcome of the sound approach, adopted by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and supported by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to promote human rights principles and protect human dignity, within the state of law, public freedoms and equality values, foremost of which are the rights of workers and combatting trafficking in persons, he said.
 
The minister made the statements on the eve of the kingdom’s celebration of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, which is observed worldwide each July 30.
 
On the occasion, the Labour Minister highlighted Bahrain’s anti-human trafficking efforts, and its achievements in this regard, citing its success in maintaining Tier-1 status for the sixth consecutive year in the United States Department of State’s 2023 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report.
 
He affirmed that the institutional efforts in Bahrain will continue unabated to confront this phenomenon, which the international community seeks to eliminate because it represents a flagrant violation of human rights.
 
He highlighted the steps taken by Bahrain to address trafficking in persons, including the Wage Protection System, the Optional Insurance System for Domestic Workers, the Flexible Work Permit scheme, the Tripartite Domestic Contract, fighting forced labour, and the establishment of an Expat Protection Centre to provide integrated services to potential victims of human trafficking.
 
The minister added that Bahrain also provides wide-ranging security, medical, health, legal and financial support to human trafficking victims, noting that a specialised Anti-human Trafficking Prosecution was established in the kingdom to fast-track cases related to trafficking in persons.
 
He emphasised that the kingdom will continue translating the royal directives in consolidating noble human values in coexistence among the various components by launching more initiatives that contribute to the development of an integrated human rights system.
 
He indicated that thanks HM the King’s leadership, Bahrain’s efforts to protect human rights have earned the acclaim of specialised international organisations, becoming a role model in this field.