Bahraini labour minister meets ILO officials, highlights Bahrain's achievements

On the sidelines of 319th session of the International Labour Organisation, held here from Oct. 17 to 31, Labour Minister Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan met here today, in the presence of the Foreign Ministry's Undersecretary Ambassador Abdulla Abdullatif, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder. The Minister highlighted the Government of Bahrain's initiatives to affirm commitment to ILO standards, citing efforts to update laws and work mechanisms in order to serve production parties, create a suitable environment more consensus and cooperation among them, asserting that the issues of dismissed workers has been addressed in accordance with directives from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the government in order to promote national cohesion and love among members of the Bahraini society. He added that the few remaining cases will be addressed in coordination with the workers' representatives and in accordance with the kingdom's legal norms, noting that any other complaints on the agenda of ILO's Board of Directors Session are no longer justified. The Minister also met the Vice-President of the International Organization of Employers (IOE) Daniel Funes de Rioja and Worker Vice-Chairperson of ILO's Governing Body Luc Cortebeeck. He said that Bahrain always welcomed fruitful cooperation with ILO's Boards of Directors, valuing highly its stance not to accept official complaints during the previous sessions and keenness to encourage solving the issue with a national framework and through the available legal channels inside the kingdom. He added that Bahrain has always been –and is still – a country that is committed to international labour standards, and will continue consolidating its numerous initiatives that have been praised by ILO, in line with its desire to ensure the sustainability of its landmark labour achievements during HM the King's comprehensive reform era.