The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) has unveiled plans to step up inspections at trade, industrial and tourism establishments as part of efforts to address the issue of illegal workers, a report said.

LMRA chief executive Osama bin Abdulla Al Absi announced that a partnership would be set up with Ministry of Industry and Commerce to conduct the inspections, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

'LMRA officials have reached an initial agreement with the ministry to conduct inspections to ensure private establishments abide by the rules and regulations governing their activities,' he said in a statement.

The planned partnership aims at protecting law-abiding businessmen as well as the national labour market in Bahrain, he said.

Al Absi held a meeting recently with Industry and Commerce Ministry assistant under-secretary for domestic trade Hameed Rahma, assistant under-secretary for industrial management Yousif Ali Hassan, assistant under-secretary for metrology and consumer protection Dr Abdulla Ahmed Abdulla, corporate affairs director Ali Makki, commercial registration director Khalid Rabea and tourism control chief Hamed Al Bousta.

He said that LMRA and the ministry would exchange data on inactive commercial registrations and CR-related violations, stressing the possibility of conducting joint field inspections.

The LMRA will also continue to co-operate with the ministries of Interior and Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning to conduct daily joint inspections at shopping malls and other venues across Bahrain. – TradeArabia News Service