Dubai: A total of 3,403 domestic workers in Bahrain have escaped from their employers over the course of two years, according to the latest statistics announced by the Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Humaidan.
Replying to a parliamentary question submitted by MP Bassem Al Maliki during the Council of Representatives’ regular weekly session, the minister did not clarify whether the number of domestic workers escaping from employers is increasing or decreasing compared to previous years, Al Ayam newspaper reported.
According to the minister, out of the total complaints received by the ministry, 550 were settled amicably by rectifying the status of the runaway workers, while 257 have been dropped by the employers.
Humaidan confirmed that 1,693 complaints were received against Ethiopians, 562 against Indonesians, 527 against Kenyans, 217 against Filipinos, 150 against Indians and 106 against Bangladeshi domestic workers.
As many as 62 complaints were also received against Sri Lankans, 40 against Ugandans, 24 against Ghanaians, 17 against Pakistanis, four against Nepalese and one against a Cameroonian worker.
Out of the 550 cases that were settled by rectifying the workers’ status, 542 workers were repatriated, while the remaining eight were registered under other employers
The minister outlined the procedures to be followed in case a runway worker is arrested or located by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) personnel.
Humaidan said employers are obliged to bear the deportation expenses of a runway worker, provided that there is no proof that the escapee had worked for a different employer at the time of the arrest.
He said the deportation expenses must be borne by any employer who hires the runway worker without a permit, in addition to paying a fine for the same reason.
