Day: June 25, 2024

Manama, Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, Minister of Labour and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), said that Bahrain’s success in maintaining its Tier 1 status ranking for the seventh consecutive year in the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, reflects its firm commitment, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to upholding human rights and protecting workers in a work environment that meets international standards.

Humaidan said that maintain Tier 1 status in this year’s TIP report demonstrates Bahrain’s standing as a nation of a rich cultural heritage with effective laws, and successful anti-trafficking practices. He said this achievement was the result of collaborative efforts with international organisations and diplomatic missions to raise awareness of the rights and duties of production part
ies.

He added that Bahrain has launched initiatives in partnership with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). These initiatives included training and capacity building through the Regional Centre of Excellence for Capacity Building in the Field of Combatting Trafficking in Persons, establishing specialised judicial entities, dedicating a prosecution for trafficking cases, establishing Victims and Witnesses Protection Office and a shelter for victims of human trafficking. The kingdom has also provided administrative assistance to victims in filing labour and civil lawsuits and developed executive mechanisms to protect workers’ rights, such as the wage protection system, labor registration, and the tripartite domestic employee contract.

The minister commended the efforts of all government entities that are operating within an integrated institutional framework, particularly the follow-up of the Minister of Interior General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa on the Interior Ministry’s efforts
in providing protection, security, and quick response to reports of human trafficking, in accordance with the kingdom’s laws.

Humaidan said that the coordination between the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, the Supreme Judicial Council, the Public Prosecution, the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, the Labour Ministry, and the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons has bolstered national efforts to firmly counter human trafficking using advanced methods. This has earned Bahrain the respect of the international community and recognition as a global model for providing an advanced, stable work environment that protects the rights of all parties without discrimination.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, Bahrain Network (BNET), the national company responsible for providing fiber-based broadband network in the Kingdom , has been recognised by three prestigious global awards for its unwavering commitment to workplace safety in accordance with occupational health and safety standards.

BNET was honored with the Silver Award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) in the Health and Safety Achievement category. This recognition underscores BNET’s consistent implementation of the highest health and safety standards throughout the past year.

BNET also received the International Safety Award with Merit from the British Safety Council and the Occupational Excellence Achievement Award from the National Safety Council, USA.

These achievements emphasise BNET’s role in providing a safer and healthier work environment for all employees. The company also prioritises the safety of its employees and network infrastructure.

Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Chief Operating Officer at B
NET, underscored the priority of employee safety and well-being at BNET.

“We are constantly working to promote best practices to reduce potential workplace hazards and create a safe work environment for our employees. These awards demonstrate our outstanding workforce’s dedication and unwavering commitment to safety regulations,” Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed added.

For his part, Ali Alhaddad, Health and Safety Manager at BNET, said that this achievement reflects BNET’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of occupational safety and health and continuous improvement to provide a safe working environment and ensure safe network operations.

He highlighted the company’s efforts to enhance occupational health and safety performance through periodic reviews.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh, the Shura Council Chairman, said the plans and programmes on combating trafficking in persons implemented by Bahrain consolidates international confidence in its human rights progress, in line with the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on upholding human rights values and principles.

The Shura Chairman expressed his pride in the Kingdom’s human rights achievements and success stories, which contribute to the development of the society.

He lauded Bahrain’s success in maintaining Tier 1 status for the seventh consecutive year in the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, which assesses 188 countries in combating trafficking in persons. He said this achievement reflects international recognition for the pioneering steps that Bahrain has taken in upholding human rights and combating trafficking in persons.

The Chairman commended the efforts of the government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and
Prime Minister, and the commitment of government bodies to implementing human rights policies and strategies. He commended the cooperation between official and civil institutions in developing initiatives that contribute to maintaining Bahrain’s position and highlighting its efforts in advancing workers’ rights.

Furthermore, Al Saleh lauded the efforts of the LMRA and other government bodies in implementing plans and programmes that ensure the application of regulatory measures to counter trafficking in persons.

The Chairman said that the legislative authority is committed to align laws and legislations with the principles of human rights in accordance with Bahrain’s constitution and the National Action Charter (NAC).

He said that the steps taken by the Kingdom in establishing human rights institutions, reflect its commitment to the rule of law and in ensuring that human rights principles are promoted within the community.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) announced the signing of a partnership agreement with the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) to train and develop national skills in the financial services sector and other related sectors.

The initiative, which is set to support over 100 Bahrainis, will empower Bahrain professionals to obtain specialised and highly in demand certificates related to value-added tax (VAT) and anti-money laundering.

This partnership is aligned with Tamkeen’s ongoing commitment to supporting the Kingdom’s financial services sector as one of the key economic sectors that contribute to the national economy by building a highly qualified pool of talent able to contribute to the growth of the sector.

This initiative offers Bahrainis the opportunity to obtain the Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) certificate, the highest international professional certificate in this field offered by the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS).

This program
me aims to provide participants with the necessary strategies and practices in accordance with international anti-money laundering standards. It also provides them with the necessary skills and knowledge related to anti-money laundering through specialised training to help them pass the exam and obtain the certificate

Graduates of the programme will receive a one-year membership in the association in addition to an internationally accredited certificate as an anti-money laundering specialist.

The initiative also offers Bahrainis the opportunity to study the Bahrain VAT Compliance Diploma offered by the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) in the UK. This certificate will enhance the skills of Bahraini professionals working in fields related to VAT and provide them with fundamental knowledge in this area, thus enabling them to comply with its laws within the enterprises they work in.

There has been a growing need for professional certificates specialised in this field since the introduction of VAT in t
he Kingdom, as they play a key role in promoting compliance with tax-related regulations and laws and ensuring the highest levels of transparency in their application.

Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief Executive of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), highlighted the importance of this partnership in training and qualifying national talent in various fields and disciplines required by the labor market.

“This partnership with the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) stems from our continuous efforts to build effective partnerships with the relevant institutions in Bahrain, and affirms our commitment to supporting career development and enhancing skills for the Bahraini workforce through internationally accredited certificates and high-quality programs, enabling them to achieve growth and success,” she added. “We look forward to the outcomes of these programs and the impact they will have on the Bahraini labor market, especially the financial services sector.”

Dr. Ahmed Abdulhameed Al Shaikh, CEO of the Bahrai
n Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), commended Tamkeen’s active role in developing national talent and preparing them according to the requirements of the labor market.

“We are proud of this partnership with the Tamkeen, which is in line with our commitment to provide high-quality training services with international standards for Bahrainis. By providing international certificates in the fields of anti-money laundering and VAT compliance, we seek to enhance Bahraini competencies in the banking and finance sector and enable them to achieve excellence and success in this field,” Al Shaikh added.

Individuals interested in joining these training programmes can apply directly by contacting the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) via email bankingpro@bibf.com before July 1, provided that they meet the eligibility criteria and requirements for each program.

Tamkeen’s partnership with BIBF comes in line with its strategic priorities focused on economic impact and the private sector under three pi
llars; increasing economic participation through employment opportunities for new market entrants, expanding career development opportunities available to the Bahraini workforce, and further developing the private sector by supporting enterprises and boosting productivity through the adoption of technology.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, Osama bin Ahmed Khalaf Al Asfoor, the Minister of Social Development, opened a training workshop on designing innovative community initiatives in elderly care.

The workshop was co-organised by Ebrahim K. Kanoo Senior Social Club and the Regional Network for Social Responsibility.

The workshop focused on the impact of innovative community initiatives in elderly care, including, designing methodologies, and harmonising initiatives using professional tools.

In his remarks at the workshop, the minister highlighted Bahrain’s initiatives to enable the elderly’s effective integration and contribution to sustainable development.

The minister emphasised the valuable efforts, in partnership with civil society, to provide comprehensive care for senior citizens. He noted that the ministry has developed programmes aimed at protecting, caring for, and providing services to the elderly, to benefit from their expertise and capabilities.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, The Ministry of Interior announced the designation of a dedicated hotline (997) to receive reports regarding cases of obtaining the Bahraini citizenship in violation of the law.

The hotline will be operational starting Thursday, June 27th, and will be available from 8 am to 12 pm during official working days.

Callers must disclose their identity and make sure that the information provided may assist the work of the committee assigned to review citizenship cases.

Source: Bahrain News Agency