Abolishing sponsorship system Monday, 03 May 2010 20:00

The Kingdom of Bahrain abolished its sponsorship system after issuing a resolution regulating foreign labour in August 2009. Bahrain is the first Gulf state to take this decision, where foreign labourers account for half of the population; about half a million people.

Will Bahrain be followed by other GCC countries, which share a similar labour structure? Will the State of Qatar be next? What are the implications of this decision and its repercussions on society?

It is no surprise that such a decision, affecting the fate of half the population, and the interests of the other half, has resulted in trepidation. Let us be patient and open-mindedly observe the outcomes of the Bahraini decision before allowing fear to lead to a misunderstanding of the resolution.

To apply this resolution, the Kingdom of Bahrain enacted a new law regulating the relationship between employees and employers. This law permits the transfer of an employee to another sponsor without requiring the former employer’s consent as long as three months notice is in place. In addition, the labourer may retain his/her passport, and, of course, reserve the right to leave the country and return at will. In addition, expatriate employees may sell and purchase property and goods without needing to obtain a sponsor’s consent, as long as these actions are in compliance with the State’s rule of law.

Expatriates are then in control of their destinies, as human beings with free will, rather than surrendering their fate to the discretion of others. These personal liberties include the rights to travel, marry, buy a car, bring family to the country, and choose employment under “fair conditions” as stipulated in Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The government took this decision after obtaining unanimous approval fr om all public entities (including the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions) on a mutually agreed upon structure for the resolution, thereby protecting the rights of Bahraini and foreign labourers and employers.

Following the approval of this resolution and its publication in the official newspaper, warning bells rang across the Gulf, as member countries feared its impact would soon extend to them. Alarms bells rang among citizens, who feel disadvantaged after painstakingly processing visas and paying dues to import and train labour, only to find that others may lure these labourers away at little or no cost.

However, the very same employers feeling disadvantaged will now also have easy access to the labour pool in the very same way, as all employers are now subjected to the balance of liquid supply and demand in the labour market, which, combined, shall yield superior service. All must strive to improve their services in order to survive in a more competitive market.

This new freedom of movement will end the crisis of labourers escaping their sponsors, since dissatisfied employees can easily transfer occupations without causing clashes with police. Oftentimes, employees flee their jobs because their talents and aspirations stretch beyond the prospects offered to them. Those same positions may gladly be filled by others with lim ited capabilities, overwhelmed by the challenging demands they face in their current occupations.

Free movement in the labour market will finally put an end to visa trading, imposition of royalties on workers in order to transfer employment, or having to beg sponsors for liberties that are every human’s right.

There is no doubt that Bahrain’s decision was influenced by increased international pressure from human rights organizations, which consider sponsorship a component of human trafficking. In its seventh annual list of worst human traffickers, the US State Department blacklisted 14 countries worldwide, four of which are in the GCC; namely, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.

Humane citizens and residents alike will welcome this decision. However, these humanitarians are a minority amongst a widespread population completely dependent on South-Asian labourers in their households.

Domestic workers’ conditions are luxurious compared to those of the masses of imported labourers in construction, oil, and other industries at the mercy of private corporations. Daily, these labourers face hazardous conditions, yet are perceived as nothing more than physical bodies born to work under the unforgiving sun in treacherous environments. Let us remember those who have died, been maimed, and health is still threatened on a daily basis. They work for inhuman hours, have no private space, let alone private lives. Instead, they are equated to caged animals, their feelings ignored, and are assigned to perform gruelling tasks without the dignity of appreciation or respect.

You see them lying at the headquarters of the Public Prosecution, which seizes thousands as sponsors have filed complaints against them, were arrested after escaping from sponsors, or rebelled and boycotted work. All of these offenders are to be locked away while their cases are kept pending by their sponsors. The country’s security is at risk under such conditions, as are our heavy consciences.

Economic theory stipulates that closed, non-competitive labour markets discourage prosperity. In order to stimulate the market, moderate prices, and overcome labour problems of employment, the labor market must allow for freedom of movement and interaction. The stability, prosperity, and development of our society depends on equal freedom for its entire population.

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