Sri Lankan community an integral part of Bahrain society

Demonstrating the importance attached to the Kingdom of Bahrain as a destination country for Sri Lankan migrant workers, Ambassador Pradeepa Saram met with the Minister of Labour and Social Development of Bahrain Jameel Bin Mohamed Ali Humaidan. 

Ambassador Saram admired the assistance and co-operation extended by the Bahrain Government to ensure the safety and legal protection of workers, noting the effective role played by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) reflective of the Kingdom’s advanced systems and legislation in the field of labour. She further stated that the active presence of the Sri Lankan community reflects the geniality between the two countries.

The Labour and Social Development Minister said that there is demand for Sri Lankan workers, as most Bahraini employers prefer to recruit Sri Lankans due to their high competence, loyalty and hard work. The Minister also said that Bahrain gives priority to uplifting the working environment of all workers, including expatriates, in accordance with national legislation and international labour standards, praising the noteworthy contribution by expatriates for the growth of Bahrain. 

Minister Ali Humaidan further highlighted that Bahrain encourages employers to recruit more semi-skilled and skilled workers since there is a considerable demand for professionals in the sectors of IT, computer technology, construction and hospitality, among others. The Ambassador in turn spoke about how vital migrant workers are for Sri Lanka, as they contribute the highest foreign exchange remittances to the country.  

Referring to Sri Lanka’s commitment to enhancing dialogue and co-operation amongst labour sending and receiving countries, bilaterally, regionally and internationally, the Ambassador spoke on the country’s active participation in the Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) as the Chair-in-Office, and also as the Chair of the Colombo Process (CP) from 2013-2017. Former Minister of Foreign Employment and Justice Thalatha Atukorale led a delegation to Bahrain in her capacity as the Chair of the ADD in 2017.