With reference to Mrs June M Al Saffar letter (GDN, May 25) “How much cleansing?”, we would like to clear everyone’s confusion between the employee’s enrolment and the data cleansing processes.
There are general misconceptions that once employees have been enrolled, they are automatically cleansed, or that we need the employees again in order to complete the data cleansing!
The enrolment (also referred to as employee’s registration) is the bio-data collection campaign for all foreign employees and their dependent spouses who live with them in Bahrain.
It is compulsory that all the expatriate employees and spouses are enrolled, we need to see them with their original CPR and we would take their digital signature as well as the digital finger prints. Through this process, we also make sure their correct photographs and signatures are captured by our systems. There is no deadline to close the enrolment process but we would try and cover as many people as possible before the end of this year. Enrolment is free, and is done only once in a lifetime. We do not need to re-enrol anyone again even if they change their employer.
As for the data cleansing process, it is about updating and correcting the data that we have about the expats and their various legal documents such as passport, RP, work permit, occupation and CPR details. We are doing this to cross check the information we have been given by the various government entities like CIO, GDNPR, SIO and others in order to correct the data discrepancies. And that is why we have been sending various reports to employers and asking them to correct the data and send them back to us.
We need to do this for all the expats and all their family members living with them in Bahrain (including children)
Documents are to be submitted by their current employer (or father’s, mother’s or spouse’s employer as the case maybe.)
The data cleansing process started in May last year and will continue. However, the employers’ response is still quite slow, despite the many calls and Press releases asking them to co-operate. We will not be able to process any transaction (New family visa, renewal of expiring work or family visa, transfer of work visa etc) for those whose data have not been cleansed. Bear in mind that it could take up to five weeks to complete the cleansing process after the documents’ initial submission.
Anyone can submit the data cleansing documents to LMRA on behalf of the employer, and we have provided employers who have registered their companies / organisations at LMRA with personal identification numbers (PIN) – sent on their registered e-mail address , in order to access our systems and submit the required documents online, saving their valuable time.
Documents required for data cleansing:
This goes for the employees as well as their family members living with them in Bahrain (or attached to their passports)
A copy of the expat’s current passport (page(s) showing the person’s name, photograph and passport details – passport number, issue date, expiry date etc)
A copy of the expat’s current CPR card (both sides)
A copy of the most recent Residence Permit (RP) stamp.
A copy of the pages containing the name of the father or spouse (for Indian and Pakistani nationals only).
In case of attached children on parent’s passport, a copy of the relevant details page of mother’s or father’s passport should also be presented as well as the father or mother’s CPR.
We are always looking for ways to improve our services and we hope that this letter clarifies the matter for the many employers and expatriate families who did not yet complete the data cleansing process Waheed Al Balushi E-Services Manager Public Relations Manager (acting) LMRA.