The call was part of a list of recommendations at a two-day Human Trafficking for Labour Exploitation workshop, which concluded yesterday.
The event, held at the Ramee International Hotel, was organised by the International Trade Union Confederation’s Asia Pacific branch (ITUC-AP) and the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU).
"The steps that are taken by the exporting countries, together with those initiated by the receiving countries can contribute, to a large extent, in stopping exploitation of these workers," GFBTU spokesman Karim Radhi told the GDN.
"We also urge the trade unions in the exporting countries to liaise with their respective governments to put forward legislation for the protection of their citizens so that they are not exploited when they arrive in a foreign country.
"Towards this end, the governments can liaise with recruiting agencies who would then be held accountable for any issues of exploitation.
"We have also urged unions in these countries to impress upon their government and its agencies to set up awareness programmes at the village level to educate the people on what to expect when they travel abroad for work."
He said that the receiving countries had been urged to monitor violations of human rights and ensure there are strict laws to deal with violators.
"The host governments should look at the workers’ living conditions, their wages, whether they are paid in time or whether they have proper medical care," said Mr Radhi.
He said the host governments are also being told to involve trade unions in decisions taken on the welfare of workers.
Welfare
"We have made another general recommendation that the governments should strengthen laws so that violators are punished more severely than they currently are," said Mr Radhi.
For Bahrain specifically, he said the GFBTU had urged the government to carry out an amendment to the trafficking law to ensure that trade unions are actively involved in all activities concerning the welfare of workers.
The GFBTU had earlier said some Bahraini companies relied on low-paid, untrained expats to do jobs that should be done by qualified workers.
It said action was needed immediately, claiming the time for workshops and raising awareness had long passed.
The federation stressed that unskilled foreign workers were often forced to give up their rights to secure job in the Gulf, doing jobs that did not have visas.
Such individuals, it said, should not be blackmailed into relinquishing their freedom and human dignity for the sake of working.
Participants at the workshop included representatives of the International Labour Organisation, ITUC, ITUC-AP and the Solidarity Centre, as well as union representatives from Kuwait and Jordan.
