By SOMAN BABY from New Delhi

EXPATRIATE workers could soon receive unemployment benefits until they find a new job, it emerged yesterday.

This will be for a limited period, which will be defined by the Labour Ministry in co-ordination with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), said Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi.

He was speaking at the end of his four-day official visit to India, where he also announced that Bahrain would abolish its sponsorship system by the end of the year.

Dr Al Alawi said that a proposal to grant unemployment benefits to expatriate workers is being reviewed.

He said that the sponsorship system prevailing in Bahrain was not according to the country’s immigration law.

“I believe that allowing the free movement of workers will eventually help to raise the value of human resources. It will also prevent some of the appalling abuses of the so-called free visa system.”

Details of the unemployment benefit scheme for expatriates will be announced later.

Dr Al Alawi said he was aware of the objection of the business community to any move aimed at eliminating the sponsorship practice.

“We will take into account their suggestions and try to address their concerns,” he noted.

“However, we shall not go back from the decision to allow the free movement of labour in Bahrain.

“Bahrain wants to take the lead in the Gulf in the area of labour market liberalisation.”

The minister said that an ILO expert will work with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) in drafting the best measures to abolish the sponsorship system.

Sponsorship

“Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and Economic Development Board chairman Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa is very keen to abolish the practice of sponsorship and liberalise the labour market,” said Dr Al Alawi.

“His aim is to allow free movement of labour, irrespective of their nationality, as the government allows free movement of capital and services.

“The abolition of the sponsorship system will fulfill the government objective of preventing the violation of human rights and all types of human trafficking.”

Dr Al Alawi said the ILO expert would join the LMRA in June and start work on the project.

“He will advise us on the best ways for transition from the present system to the new one,” he added.

“He will meet all concerned parties and everything will be done as per the ILO standards.”

Dr Al Alawi said one of the suggestions is to have employment companies, which would be jointly set up by the government and the private sector.

“Such companies will recruit people according to the requirements of employers,” he said.

“No employer can hold the passport of an employee unless the employee wants to keep his passport with the employer for security reasons.

“On completion of his contract, the employee is free to move and take up another job in Bahrain.”

Dr Al Alawi said that Bahrain was one of the eight countries chosen by ILO for implementing its Decent Work Programme.

“The unemployment benefits and measures taken to protect the health and safety of workers are all part of this programme.”

Dr Al Alawi and his delegation left New Delhi for Nepal yesterday afternoon for the last leg of their three-nation tour.