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Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty has urged members of the Indian community not to accept work in Bahrain without valid employment contracts and to avoid the 'middle men' who continue to sell 'free visas' despite a recent crackdown on the practice.
His call came at a memorial service held to mark the second anniversary of a blaze tragedy, which claimed the lives of 16 workers.
Mr Shetty said: "While applying for new jobs in the kingdom, one must ensure that the company has gone through the proper channels and has documentation processed through the Indian Embassy here."
A fire engulfed the workers' accommodation at the former Royal Tower Construction site in Gudaibya in July 2006. All the deceased were in their early 20s and came from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
The memorial service was organised by the Indian Community Relief Fund (ICRF) committee at the Indian Club in Manama.
Mr Shetty also urged jobseekers looking for work in Bahrain to avoid unscrupulous recruitment agencies that charge unfair fees for work permits which do not provide details of a bone-fide employer.
Illegal agents often target the poorer parts of India and neighbouring countries offering to provide the relevant paperwork to secure employment in the Gulf for a payment, usually raised from money-lenders.
The gullible men, often with families to support, arrive with hopes of making a good living only to find themselves in poorly-paid labouring work camps, without official paperwork and in debt.
He added: "There is no such thing as a 'free visa'. Anyone in the kingdom with such a visa must, by all means, get their stay legalised immediately. We cannot help any individual with a 'free visa' - it is a violation of Bahraini law. A so-called 'free visa' is a cheat visa."
Mr Shetty also warned that those who indulge in 'human trafficking' will have to bear the consequences.
Offering condolences to the families and friends of those who died in the fire, Mr Shetty said that the case was still going through the court process.
It was reported recently that Justice Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa had waived court fees as a special gesture to the victims' families.
Mr Shetty said at the time: "Upon the judgement, the case for BD100,000 compensation for each family will be taken up. We have received the power of attorney from all the families to fight the case."
A company supervisor was sentenced to two years imprisonment for manslaughter but has appealed against the verdict. Its owner and another supervisor were both cleared of any wrong-doing.
Mr Shetty expressed his gratitude to the Bahrain Civil Defence on their promptness on the day of the accident and also the paramedics and the government for their help and assistance.
Those who attended the memorial service heard that the local government of Tamil Nadu had offered Indian rupees 200,000 (BD1,784.25) in compensation, alongside 100,000 rupees (BD892) donated by the Bahrain-based Tamil Social and Cultural Association, to each of the victims' families.
Speakers at the event alongside the ambassador were, chairman of the ICRF and Co-ordination Committee of Indian Associations Dr P V Cheriyan, ICRF general secretary C R Nambiar and Indian Club president Mohan Josiah.
The event ended by Mr Shetty reciting a poem by H W Longfellow - A Psalm of Life.
