MP Calls for Suspension of Vendor Evictions and Stronger Oversight of Market Labour

TDT | Manama

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During the seventeenth ordinary session of the Council of Representatives, held within the fourth ordinary annual term of the sixth legislative chapter, MP Mamdouh Al Saleh delivered a measured parliamentary intervention addressing municipal administration, the condition of traditional markets, and regulatory gaps in relation to foreign labour.

Al Saleh began by formally commending the Director General of Manama Municipality, Engineer Mohammed Al Suhaili, praising his administrative conduct and cooperative approach during his period of service. He described the official as a public servant who demonstrated institutional responsibility and contributed to municipal development, including efforts that supported the wider public interest beyond the Capital Governorate.

In addressing the proposal calling for the suspension of eviction orders against vendors in Jidhafs Market, Al Saleh stressed that the market represented one of Bahrain’s long established commercial and social centres. He noted that the area was experiencing clear deterioration in infrastructure and services, in the absence of a comprehensive redevelopment plan capable of addressing long standing challenges.

He highlighted the difficult conditions under which vendors currently operate, citing the absence of organised parking, inadequate sanitary facilities, and a lack of proper ventilation and cooling. Al Saleh cautioned that proceeding with removals without providing realistic and functional alternatives would place undue pressure on traders and disrupt livelihoods. He urged the government to conduct a thorough field assessment and undertake a direct site visit before responding to the proposal, adding that several unused or neglected facilities could be rehabilitated and repurposed as alternative market spaces. He further emphasised the market’s economic and cultural role, noting its ability to attract visitors from within the Kingdom and across the Gulf region.

Turning to the proposal concerning the need for a comprehensive solution to the issue of bachelor accommodation, Al Saleh raised broader concerns regarding conditions in Manama Market, particularly the excessive presence of foreign labour. He pointed to widespread violations related to residency and commercial practices, and expressed concern that regulatory measures appeared to be more stringent towards legal foreign workers, while illegal labour continued to operate with limited deterrence.

Al Saleh criticised inspection campaigns that he described as reactive and media driven, warning that temporary interventions without sustained enforcement would fail to deliver lasting solutions. He stressed the importance of consistent regulatory action to prevent the recurrence of violations once public attention subsides.