Manama, May 08: The Bahrain government has made it clear that sacked expatriate workers have right to compensation under Bahrain’s labour law. The compensation amount ranges from a minimum of BD150 to a maximum of BD500.
Those who lost their jobs after their company wound up business because of financial reasons or if they were sacked without any reason are entitled to compensation
Legal Adviser at the Ministry of Labour, Dr Abdulbasat Abdulmohsen, told a forum on migrant workers held recently that expat workers could get compensation by adopting the same legal procedures which are used by locals.
The official explained to delegates from unions in Asian countries who attended the forum that Bahrain is a signatory to agreement 111 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) that bars discriminatory policies against workers. He said rights of all workers regardless of their nationalities and gender were protected according to the law of the land.
“Migrant workers have the right to complain to officials on issues of pending wages, passport possession or any other disputes. But due to the nature of their two-year renewable job contract and other constraints they do not come forward and even shy away from joining trade unions,” the official explained.
–Agencies