The LMRA’s Expat Protection Centre is a central hub of services for migrant workers. Established in Northern Sehla in 2015, the centre acts as the headquarters for the National Committee for Combatting Trafficking in Persons (NCCTIPs), and houses the shelter for victims of trafficking. The shelter is gender-segregated, and comes with its own clinic. The 995 National Anti-Trafficking hotline operates from the EPC.
All migrant workers are welcome to the EPC, regardless of their visa status, to seek assistance or protection.
The Grievances and Protection Directorate (GPD) act as the first responders for walk-in cases, and conduct initial interviews with the migrant worker to begin working on resolving the case. GPD staff have received United Nations-certified training in conducting interviews with vulnerable persons, especially migrant workers.
Other services include the Protective Inspection Directorate and a branch for the National Institute for Human Rights (NIHR).
The EPC is home to various departments that work in unison to assist the migrant workers. These include:
NCCTIPs Shelter
Shelter for Victims of Trafficking and Victims of Vulnerability for both males and females.
The Grievances and Protection Directorate (GPD)
The GPD is responsible for receiving and referring the cases of migrant workers who approach the EPC, handling the case through the NRM. This department also helps migrant workers' appeal their status when an ‘Absence’ is placed on them by their employer.
EPC Clinic
A licensed clinic with volunteer doctors to cater shelter residents through medical attention and tests.
995 Anti-Trafficking Hotline
- The anti-trafficking hotline, 995, is the most accessible and important point of contact for migrant workers living in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
- It provides 24-hour service to all workers, especially those with severe labour queries – predominantly related, yet not restricted, to Trafficking in Persons.
- It assists in providing useful and adequate guidance to expats, whilst referring them to the appropriate governmental authorities, including LMRA, labour court, police and hospital.
- The hotline assistance is offered in nine languages: Arabic, English, Hindi, Telugu, Tagalog, Sinhalese, Tamil, Urdu and Malayalam.
Please note that although the hotline is open 24 hours; in case of an emergency, workers must still call 999.
Regional Center of Excellence for Capacity Building
The Regional Center of Excellence for Capacity Building is an anti-trafficking centre that provides training for all aspects of combatting Trafficking in Persons for the Middle East and North Africa in partnership with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).