The meeting features the three parties of production (Ministry of Labour, Bahrain Chamber, General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions, and the Free Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions).
The meeting, addressed ways of joint cooperation, and focused on benefiting from the specialized expertise provided by the ILO through technical support programs and projects implemented in member states. It also reviewed mechanisms for joint cooperation in the areas of occupational safety and health, promoting social dialogue between the three parties of production, as well as improving the work environment and raising productivity levels.
At the beginning of the meeting, Khalid Najibi, First Vice Chairman of the Chamber, welcomed the visit of Gilbert Houngbo, Director-General of the ILO, to the Kingdom of Bahrain, stressing the commitment of Bahraini business owners to work alongside the organization to support the various initiatives aimed at improving the work environment and promoting occupational safety and health standards, based on the Kingdom of Bahrain's firm approach in supporting multilateral action.
He stressed the Chamber's keenness to enhance cooperation with all development and labor partners, both locally and internationally, praising the constructive and fruitful cooperation with the ILO in various joint fields, in order to achieve full justice among all parties of labor by ensuring a balance of rights and duties between workers and employers and creating a decent work environment that contributes to increased productivity. He explained that the Chamber's strategy in its current session aims to promote a work environment characterized by transparency and social justice, with a commitment to applying international standards.
Najibi stressed the importance of continuing to promote social dialogue between the three parties of production, as it constitutes an effective tool in addressing most of the challenges and problems facing the labor market, as well as its role in achieving market stability and enhancing levels of competitiveness and productivity.
For his part, Director-General of the ILO expressed his appreciation for the initiatives and projects implemented by the Kingdom of Bahrain to enhance the protection of workers' rights and gains, stressing that the organization attaches great importance to Bahrain within the framework of its projects and initiatives, and that it is continuing to provide support to Bahrain in strengthening its labor file and protecting workers' rights, pointing to the Kingdom's commitment to implementing a distinguished system that achieves a balance between the parties of the labor relationship, and keeping its legislation and policies applied in the labor market in line with international standards.
His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour, welcomed the presence of the ILO’s Director-General, stressing the importance of the joint meeting held to discuss developments in the labor market file in the Kingdom, whether for Bahraini or non-Bahraini workers, pointing out that the Kingdom has updated the systems and laws to keep pace with current and future developments in the labor market, and ensure adaptation to current changes to maintain the sustainability of the national economy.
He said that the Kingdom of Bahrain is an ideal model with regard to the labor file, as the Kingdom has been able to provide a safe and fair work environment for migrant workers, and achieve social justice for them, including providing all forms of support that guarantee their rights, praising the role of the Social Insurance Fund in providing social protection for workers, stressing that this fund is one of the effective tools in supporting the stability of workers and guaranteeing their rights, which reflects the Kingdom's vision in providing a model to be followed in the region in the field of workers' rights.
Nibras Talib, Chief Executive Officer of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), affirmed that Bahrain will remain a leader in the field of workers' rights, as its efforts in ensuring workers' rights and organizing the labor market in a manner commensurate with the accelerating global economic challenges have been at the forefront. He pointed out that the Chamber plays a prominent role in international forums to enhance the relationship between the three parties of production: workers, employers, and the government.
He explained that Bahrain was able to organize the labor market effectively despite global challenges, praising the steps taken to overcome the crises, most notably the crisis that the Kingdom faced during the Corona pandemic, where Bahrain was able to overcome the crisis thanks to the coordination and cooperation between all concerned parties, stressing that Bahrain enjoys flexibility between employers and workers, which contributes to improving the work environment and supports the sustainability of the national economy.
Abdulqader Abdulkarim Al Shehabi, Secretary-General of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions, said that the presence of ILO’s Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo, in the Kingdom of Bahrain reflects international confidence in Bahrain and its pivotal role in promoting workers' rights at the regional and international levels, expressing his pride in the efforts exerted by the Kingdom of Bahrain in cooperation with the International Labour Organization and the commitment to continuous development in labor policies, which contributes to enhancing social and economic stability in the Kingdom.
Yaqoub Yusuf, Chairman of the Free Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions, explained that the Kingdom of Bahrain has achieved great successes in the labor market, and has given great attention to multilateralism, stressing that the Kingdom of Bahrain does not discriminate between foreign and citizen workers, as the treatment of all workers is in accordance with the standards of justice and equality, stressing that Bahrain continues to make progress in the field of workers' rights, and is constantly working to improve the work environment for all, in a way that guarantees their rights and contributes to the sustainability of the national economy.
Present at the meeting were and attendees included First Vice Chairman of the Chamber, Khalid Mohammed Najibi; Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa; Chief Executive Officer of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons, Nibras Talib; Secretary-General of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions, Abdulqader Abdulkarim Al Shehabi; Chairman of the Free Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions, Yaqoub Yusuf; Regional Director for Arab States at the ILO, Dr. Ruba Jaradat; Board Member of the Bahrain Chamber, Board Member of the ILO, and Vice-President of the Organization for Employers in Asia, Sonia Janahi; in addition to a number of BCCI board members and experts.
AE