Speaker lauds Bahrain securing Tier 1 status in US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons report

Manama, The vision led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa with the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has contributed to building a comprehensive human rights framework to combat trafficking in persons, Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam, Speaker of the Council of Representatives, said. The Speaker said that Bahrain's success in maintaining Tier 1 status for the seventh consecutive year in the US State Department's Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, which assesses 188 countries in combating trafficking in persons, demonstrates global recognition for the Kingdom's efforts. Al Musallam highlighted the advanced laws regulating the labour market in Bahrain, developing the work environment which upholds the rights of all parties in all fairness and transparency, protection of the rights of workers, and initiating proactive steps to combat trafficking in persons, through cooperation between the LMRA, the embassies of labour-exporting cou ntries, civil society institutions and international organisations. He added that these factors have contributed to increasing awareness and community partnership to reduce illegal practices. The Speaker commended the establishment of a department specialised in preventive monitoring within the LMRA, intensifying inspection campaigns to address irregular employment, protection of expatriate workers, addressing forced labour, development of the wage protection system, and reduction of labour disputes, which reflects Bahrain's commitment to combat trafficking in persons. Al Musallam highlighted Bahrain's development in this area through establishing the national referral system for victims of trafficking in persons and the Expat Protection Centre (EPC), allocating a special prosecution and court for crimes of trafficking in persons, establishing an office for the protection of victims and witnesses, and providing administrative assistance to expatriate workers in filing labour lawsuits and civil lawsuits for registered workers, all of which creates a leading system in providing labour protection. He expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the National committee for Combating Trafficking in Persons and other government bodies, which contributed to reinforcing Bahrain's position internationally in combating trafficking in persons. Source: Bahrain News Agency