Al Halwachi underscores importance of Tamkeen efforts to protect workers’ rights

Manama, Hassan Al Halwachi, Deputy Secretary-General of the General Federation of Workers Trade Unions in Bahrain (GFWTUB) and Labour Fund (Tamkeen) board member, highlighted the crucial role played by Tamkeen in protecting workers' rights. He emphasised the importance of maintaining proper oversight to ensure that support is distributed fairly and to prevent any misuse of the system. Al Halwachi praised Tamkeen's continued efforts to prevent the exploitation of Bahraini workers by businesses benefiting from its programmes. He noted that recent improvements in monitoring have led to a significant rise in inspections, with over 4,300 visits carried out this year. He added that Tamkeen also reached out to more than 32,400 beneficiaries of employment and wage support programmes during and after the support period. According to the data, unlawful dismissal cases remain very rare, demonstrating the effectiveness of the oversight measures in place compared to the significant support provided to Bahraini workers. He said that Tamkeen applies penalties for violations, including withdrawing support and reclaiming funds from offenders. He added that recently, funds were recovered from a company found in violation. He highlighted that Tamkeen continues to work with relevant authorities to recover any misused funds tied to support programmes. Al Halwachi also pointed out that new measures, such as the introduction of multiple channels for reporting violations, ensure the confidentiality of informers, encouraging more individuals to report issues. He added that this contributes to the protection of workers' rights and prevents the exploitation of employees by businesses. Source: Bahrain News Agency