Bahrain made ‘giant steps’

The US Ambassador to Bahrain Justin Hicks Siberelly esterday hailed Bahrain’s achievement in combating trafficking in persons as ‘giant steps’ in the field. The ambassador said this as Bahrain for the second year in a row maintained its Tier 1 status in the US State Department’s 2019 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report in the Middle East and North Africa region.

During a meeting with Chief Executive Officer of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons, Osamah Abdullah Al-Absi, the ambassador hailed Bahrain’s pioneering initiatives in combating trafficking in persons, including accountability of culprits involved in human trafficking and forced labour. Bahrain, the US envoy said, is one of the first countries in the world to adopt the National Referral System, which assists in following up the process of complaints and expediting their development.

Highlighting the Flexible Work Permit as a “brave initiative’ in the field of labour rights, he said this has contributed to bringing the historical international achievement to the Kingdom of Bahrain. Siberell also noted the Victim’s Assistance Fund, which is a reliable initiative to be followed by other countries.

The two sides discussed broadening cooperation in combating human trafficking and developing skills and capabilities of national cadres concerned in this field. The LMRA welcomed the US support for Bahrain in areas of combating human trafficking, Labour Market Reform Project and the development of work environment.