Bahrain MPs to shift labourers from residential areas

Manama: The issue of labourers’ accommodations in residential areas has surfaced once again after it created a huge controversy last year.

A group of parliamentarians, headed by the Council’s Services’ Committee Chairman MP Abbas Al Madhi, has submitted a proposal to shift labourers from residential areas and build homes for them in industrial areas.

Al Madhi said in a press statement yesterday, “The law proposal aims at amending Article 24 of Law Decree 28 of the year 1999 in regards to the construction and regulation of industrial areas. We seek finding permanent solutions for the issue of the increasing joint accommodations of labourers in residential areas and curb the social problems that come along with it.”

“Single labourers have been a source of public annoyance to families as they pile up in front of their homes and commercial outlets in a disturbing way. They also cause traffic congestion in residential areas while leaving and coming back from work in the morning and evening,” Al Madhi stated.

The proposal instructs to allow building accommodations for labourers in industrial areas, in addition to constructing warehouses and showrooms in the same areas. According to Al Madhi, the proposal should come strictly in accordance with the safety terms to ensure labourers’ security.

Al Madhi presented the proposal along with MPs Jameela Al Sammak, Ali Al Muqla, Osama Al Khalaja and Mohammed Al Maarifi.

The issue surfaced in 2015 after accidents and crimes related to labourers living in residential areas increased. It became a main concern when an expat labourer living in Isa Town allegedly attacked a Bahraini elderly man and his son, causing serious injuries to them.

Reports claimed back then, that the attacker became violent after he was caught molesting an elderly woman inside her home on Block 808 in Isa Town.

Following public outrage, Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa issued certain directives to curb such incidents and combat the threats of joint labourers’ accommodations.

The Prime Minister has directed to adopt several new regulations for landlords to comply with.

“Landlords are compelled to inform the concerned municipality, in case their properties are rented as joint labourers’ accommodations. They will be required to ensure health and security standards at the properties within 30 days of leasing them,” the Prime Minister stated in March 2015.

Cabinet Affairs General Secretary Dr. Yasser bin Essa Al Naser said back then, “The Cabinet has agreed to impose punishments on violations related to electricity wiring and other equipment connections within labourers’ accommodations. The punishments will be enforced on violators in case the wiring and connections were installed in a way that is contrary to safety conditions and without permission from the concerned authorities.”