Bahrain to Honour Businesses Fighting Trafficking

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain has launched a new initiative to incentivise private companies to play a more active role in combating human trafficking, further expanding its rightsbased labour ecosystem.

The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) has introduced the ‘Best Practices Award for Combating Trafficking in Persons in the Private Sector’, a recognition scheme aimed at rewarding firms that demonstrate exceptional commitment to fair and safe labour environments.

The award was announced during the opening of the second edition of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Forum, held under the theme ‘The Role of the Private Sector in Addressing Trafficking in Persons’. The forum was attended by diplomats, members of the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons, and senior government officials.

Rewarding Ethics

LMRA Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons, Nibras Mohammed Talib, said the initiative reflects Bahrain’s ongoing efforts to institutionalise fair labour practices.

He reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to fighting trafficking through a national strategy built on prevention, protection, justice, partnership, and the integration of anti-trafficking principles into long-term policy planning.

Talib praised the role of the private sector as a key partner, noting that recent inspection campaigns revealed a compliance rate of nearly 99 percent during the first half of the year.

Transparent Wages

The LMRA also highlighted its partnership with the private sector to provide all expatriate workers with International Bank Account Numbers (IBANs), enabling electronic wage transfers through authorised financial institutions.

This system improves transparency in wage payments, ensures proper documentation, and reduces the number of disputes that escalate into legal cases.

Awareness Drive

The authority has also intensified awareness efforts. Last year, it launched the ‘Ma’an Na’mal’ (Together We Work) initiative in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration, to educate employers and workers about their rights and available protection services.

Bahrain also runs structured orientation programmes for domestic workers and their employers, making it the first country in the region to implement such initiatives in coordination with both the IOM and the International Labour Organization.

Training Core

National workforce development remains central to Bahrain’s approach. The LMRA’s regional anti-trafficking training centre has certified 87 trainers from six public and private sectors since its launch in 2021.

Forum Voices

The forum featured two discussion panels focused on community-led strategies to combat trafficking and the importance of awareness in building national partnerships.

Speakers stressed the need to strengthen joint efforts with civil society and the business community to reinforce Bahrain’s position as a regional and international leader in anti-trafficking reform.

The newly launched award aims to celebrate and sustain ethical employment practices while encouraging the private sector to serve as an active force in Bahrain’s anti-trafficking efforts.