2006 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor - Bahrain

Incidence and Nature of Child Labor

Small numbers of children in Bahrain perform nonhazardous work in the Manama Central Market, and although not common, some children work in family businesses.²⁶¹

Child Labor Laws and Enforcement

The law forbids the employment of children younger than 14 years.²⁶² Minors 14 to 16 years may work no more than 6 hours per day, with one hour of rest during daytime hours only; minors may not work overtime or be paid on a piece-rate basis.²⁶³ The law also establishes a list of 25 occupations in which no person younger than 16 years may work. These occupations include quarrying; oil refining; auto repair; butchering; construction; and any work that involves lifting heavy loads or contact with radiation, asbestos, furnaces, explosives, batteries, cranes, electricity, pressurized gas, or poisonous dust, vapors, or fumes.²⁶⁴ Working minors 14 to 16 years must obtain authorization to work from the Ministry of Labor (MOL); must undergo a medical examination prior to being employed; and must be granted annual leave of not less than a full month.²⁶⁵ However, these provisions do not apply to workers, including children, in the domestic service and agricultural sectors or in enterprises owned by their immediate family members.²⁶⁶

The MOL is responsible for enforcing child labor laws and regulations.²⁶⁷ Violations of child labor laws are punishable by fines. In addition to levying punishment against employers and supervisors, the law holds responsible any person acting as a guardian who permits the employment of a child or minor in violation of the law's provisions.²⁶⁸ The U.S. Department of State reports that MOL enforcement of child labor laws is adequate in the industrial sector, but not as effective outside that sector.²⁶⁹

The Constitution outlaws compulsory labor,²⁷⁰ and employers found guilty of using forced labor can be liable to imprisonment of up to 10 years.²⁷¹ Prostitution is illegal; forcing or enticing a child under 18 years into prostitution is punishable by 3 to 10 years of imprisonment.²⁷² Child pornography is not explicitly outlawed, but it is illegal to print, possess, or display publications, pictures, and other media that violate public morals.²⁷³ There is no law prohibiting trafficking in persons,²⁷⁴ but trafficking-related crimes may be prosecuted under laws prohibiting forced labor, forced prostitution,²⁷⁵ the abduction or kidnapping of children, or exposure of children to danger.²⁷⁶ However, according to the U.S. Department of State, prosecutions for trafficking-related offenses are rare.²⁷⁷ While there is no compulsory military service in Bahrain, juveniles can be recruited into the Bahraini Defense Force from the age of 17 years.²⁷⁸

The MOL grants permits to Bahraini companies to employ foreign workers, and immigration officials ensure that foreign workers entering Bahrain are 18 years of age or older.²⁷⁹ There have been isolated incidents of the use of false documents to gain entry into the country for workers under age 18.²⁸⁰

Current Government Policies and Programs to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labor

The government has supported anti-trafficking training workshops for law enforcement officers, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, NGOs, and employers.²⁸¹ In 2006, the government opened a shelter to provide medical care as well as psychosocial and legal services to female victims of trafficking.²⁸²

252 Government of Bahrain, Labour Law for the Private Sector, as amended, No. 23, (June 16, 1976), Article 50; available from http://www.bah-molsa.com/english/chap8.htm.

253 Government of Bahrain, The Education Act (2005), as cited in U.S. Embassy – Manama, reporting, August 27, 2005.

254 U.S. Department of State, "Bahrain," in Country Reports on Human Rights Practices-2006, Washington, DC, March 6, 2007, Section 5; available from http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78850.htm.

255 UNESCO Institute for Statistics, Gross Enrolment Ratio. Primary. Total, accessed December 20, 2006; available from http://stats.uis.unesco.org/.

256 UNESCO Institute for Statistics, Net Enrolment Rate. Primary. Total, accessed December 20, 2006; available from http://stats.uis.unesco.org/.

257 UNESCO Institute for Statistics, Survival Rate to Grade 5. Total, accessed December 18, 2006; available from http://stats.uis.unesco.org.

258 ILO, Ratifications by Country, accessed October 20, 2006; available from http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/english/newratframeE.htm.

259 Ibid.

260 ILO-IPEC, IPEC Action Against Child Labour: Highlights 2006, Geneva, October 2006, 29; available from http://www.ilo.org/iloroot/docstore/ipec/prod/eng/20061013_implementati….

261 U.S. Embassy – Manama, reporting, August 27, 2005. See also U.S. Department of State, "Country Reports – 2006: Bahrain," Section 6d. See also ILO Committee of Experts, Direct Request, Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention (No. 182) Bahrain (ratification: 2001), [online] 2004 [cited November 2, 2006]; available from http://webfusion.ilo.org/public/db/standards/normes/appl/.

262 Government of Bahrain, Labour Law for the Private Sector, as amended, Article 50.

263 Ibid., Articles 49, 51, 52, 53, and 54.

264 Ibid., Article 51. See also Government of Bahrain, Subsidiary Legislation Enacted Under the Provisions of the Labour Law for the Private Sector, No. 23, (1976), Article 1; available from http://www.bah-molsa.com/english/.

265 Government of Bahrain, Labour Law for the Private Sector, as amended, Articles 51 and 55.

266 Ibid., Articles 2 and 58.

267 U.S. Department of State, "Country Reports – 2006: Bahrain," Section 6d.

268 Government of Bahrain, Labour Law for the Private Sector, as amended, Article 163.

269 U.S. Department of State, "Country Reports – 2006: Bahrain," Section 6d.

270 Government of Bahrain, Constitution of the State of Bahrain, (February 14, 2002), Article 13(c); available from http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/ba00000_.html.

271 U.S. Embassy – Manama, reporting, March 5, 2007.

272 Penal Code, Articles 324(1) and 325, as cited in ILO Committee of Experts, Direct Request: Bahrain. See also ECPAT International CSEC Database, Bahrain, accessed October 10, 2006; available from http://www.ecpat.net/. See also U.S. Department of State, "Country Reports – 2006: Bahrain," Section 5.

273 ILO Committee of Experts, Direct Request: Bahrain.

274 U.S. Embassy – Manama, reporting, March 5, 2007.

275 US Embassy – Manama official, E-mail communication USDOL official, July 29, 2007.

276 UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 44 of the Convention: Initial Reports of States Parties due in 1994, July 23, 2001, 77; available from http://www.bayefsky.com/reports/bahrain_crc_c_11_add.24_2000.pdf.

277 U.S. Department of State, "Bahrain (Tier 2 Watch List)," in Trafficking in Persons Report – 2006, Washington, DC, June 5, 2006; available from http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2006/65988.htm.

278 Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, "Bahrain," in Child Soldiers Global Report 2004, London, November 17, 2004; available from http://www.child-soldiers.org/document_get.php?id=845.

279 U.S. Embassy – Manama official, E-mail communication to USDOL official, March 19, 2007.

280 U.S. Embassy – Manama, reporting, March 5, 2007.

281 U.S. Department of State, "Trafficking in Persons Report – 2006: Bahrain."

282 U.S. Department of State, "Bahrain," in Trafficking in Persons Interim Assessment, Washington, DC, January 19, 2007; available from http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/rpt/78948.htm. See also U.S. Embassy – Manama, reporting, March 5, 2007.