Gulf | Bahrain
Bahrain bans transportation of labourers in open trucks
Bahrain's traffic authorities on Tuesday pledged not to compromise on the ban to carry labourers in open trucks, saying that the grace period would not be extended.
- By Habib Toumi, Bahrain Bureau Chief
- Published: 12:58 April 28, 2009
Manama: Bahrain's traffic authorities on Tuesday pledged not to compromise on the ban to carry labourers in open trucks, saying that the grace period would not be extended.
"The ban will be fully implemented starting May 1 as agreed. The companies concerned with the matter have been given ample time to adjust their situation and there will be no reprieve," Khalid Al Dossari, from the Traffic Directorate, said. "The ban was decided after exhaustive studies indicated a rise in the number of fatal and dangerous accidents in the last three years."
Several workers have been hurled to their deaths from the backs of open vehicles.
Abdul Rahman Bu Hijji, spokesman for the Traffic Directorate, told Gulf News that three labourers were killed and 221 were injured in accidents in 2006, and that three more died and 187 were injured in 2007 as they were being driven in open trucks.
Five drivers died and 105 sustained injuries in 2006 and four were killed and 117 injured in 2007, he said.
The ban on carrying labourers to and from their worksites in lorries and open trucks was initially scheduled for application on January 1 this year, but was postponed to May 1 following strong intervention from the business community which has vehemently opposed it, claiming that the cost to transport workers in proper minibuses would be massive.
Several contractors complained that the ban would mean the purchase of new vehicles would make heavy financial demands on their budgets, and lobbied for its postponement. Some contractors also argued that the addition of new vehicles would mean heavy traffic congestions and woes.
However, the authorities are now determined not to extend the grace period and want all companies and contractors to comply with the ban.
"We held several meetings with contractors and companies that employed a large number of expatriate labourers and explained the situation to them. They now have to comply with the law," Al Dossari said. "Those who break the law will face heavy fines or prison sentences up to six months, or both."
The authorities in Bahrain have been working on improving their trafficking in humans record. Activists complain that even though the country has several laws that ban trafficking and abuse of expatriates, their application remains a major obstacle.
A ban on forcing labourers to work in open spaces under the summer scorching heat in July and August was initially resisted by the contractors, but the government was adamant on its application and violators were fined or taken to court.
Rights activists hope that the government will be as determined in the application of the transport of labourers in open trucks starting May 1 as the country celebrates Labour Day.
Bahrain is home to more than 500,000 expatriates, most of whom are unskilled labourers in the thriving construction sector.
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