BAHRAIN’S migrant workers could have their employment contracts translated into their native language if a similar move in Qatar proves successful, according to a top official.
Labour Ministry Under-Secretary Sabah Al Dossary told the GDN that they would closely monitor the implementation of recommendations made by the Doha-based Qatar Foundation in its latest report on migrant worker welfare.
The report, titled Migrant Labour Recruitment to Qatar and published earlier this month, not only calls for contract translation but also recommends a ban on changes being made to contracts after the employee has left their home country.
“We could definitely adopt the project, once it is reviewed and its success evaluated,” said Mr Al Dossary.
“It is routine that we study various projects and review success stories from Gulf nations, during an annual meeting with the Labour Minister held in October.
“Bahrain is always open to projects that are beneficial to foreign labourers – usually, this is the case with other GCC countries as well, but as of now this recommendation is not part of the GCC Supreme Council for labour affairs’ agenda.”
If Qatar’s leadership does recommend the project to the GCC council, then it will be reviewed, Mr Al Dossary added.
Rights activists welcomed the announcement, saying that it would help low-income workers if the report’s recommendations were adopted in Bahrain.
The issue of non-existent employment contracts was one of the most common problems reported to the Migrant Workers Protection Society, according to the group’s chairwoman Marietta Dias.
“Often we see, while in dispute, employers saying that the employee had broken their contract,” said Ms Dias.