Ethiopia-Bahrain push to streamline labour market

MANAMA — Ethiopia and Bahrain have moved to formalize a framework designed to streamline labor market cooperation, aiming to enhance oversight and transparency for the movement of workers between the Horn of Africa and the Gulf. The bilateral initiative, confirmed by officials in Manama, seeks to establish standardized recruitment protocols intended to protect the rights of migrant workers while meeting the growing demand for labor in the Bahraini private sector.

The agreement follows Bahrain's ongoing efforts to refine its labor policies to remain competitive within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Bahrain has historically positioned itself as a progressive labor market in the region, having introduced the Flexi Permit system and replaced the traditional sponsorship, or *kafala*, model with a flexible permit system that allows greater mobility for foreign nationals. By engaging directly with Addis Ababa, Bahrain aims to ensure that the recruitment pipeline remains ethical and efficient, reducing reliance on informal intermediaries that often leave workers vulnerable to exploitation.