Around 1,700 foreign workers run away from their employers every year in Bahrain, said a senior government official, adding new measures introduced by the government had brought down the figure.

"We have shelters in co-operation with the Interior Ministry for 300 runaway workers, and we work to solve their problems, while the Labour Market Regulatory Authority has just employed 70 inspectors and they are accompanied by police to inspect places," Labour Minister Jameel Humaidan was quoted as saying in the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

Under current legislation those who employ or hide runaway workers are fined up to BD4,000 or even jailed. – TradeArabia News Service