45 Bahrain firms blacklisted for mistreating Indian workers

DUBAI: The Indian mission in Bahrain has blacklisted around 45 local firms for violating the country's labour laws and denying Indian workers their basic rights. The companies will not be able to recruit any more workers from India.

The companies were found mistreating workers, providing sub-standard accommodation and not paying wages.

"These companies will not be granted permits to recruit workers from India until they correct the situation," said Indian Ambassador to Bahrain, Balkrishna Shetty.

"We studied the cases of such companies following several complaints from workers over the past one year," he told the Gulf Daily News.

"We were asking these companies just to follow the Bahraini law. Among those who violate the law are some leading construction companies that employ hundreds of Indian workers.

"The companies that failed to correct the situation have been put on a blacklist."

The Indian Embassy will not allow such companies to recruit any more workers from India, said Shetty.

"We shall also refuse visas for the owners or their representatives to visit India," he added.

"I have already notified Bahrain's Foreign Ministry that such employers are hampering the government's amnesty process," he said.