By SOMAN BABY

SCORES of expatriates turned out to register with the Labour Market Regul-atory Authority (LMRA), as it opened a festival yesterday.

The aim of the festival is to complete the registration of all expatriates in Bahrain. The LMRA has already enrolled more than 270,000 expatriates, out of a total estimated number of 500,000.

“We hope to enrol the remaining people before the festival ends on June 21,” said LMRA e-services and public relations manager Waheed Al Balushi.

He said the aim was to register an average 6,000 to 7,000 people a day during the festival, at the Bahrain Inter-national Exhibition Centre.

“There are 30 counters, with special areas for families and disabled people,” he said.

Appointment

An appointment system has been introduced to avoid overcrowding or a repeat of the chaos experienced at some enrolment centres last month.

“People who want to enrol during the morning hours should visit the centre between 6.30am and 8.30am,” Mr Al Balushi told the GDN.

“Those for the afternoon and evening sessions should report between 2.30pm and 4.30pm.

“Once the number reaches 3,500 for each session, the hall will be closed,” Mr Al Balushi said. People visiting the centre after that will be given an appointment card.

“We advise companies which want to enrol workers to send representatives to collect the appointment cards.

“The appointment will be given for the following day or any other convenient day.

“The hall has a capacity to accommodate a maximum of 3,500 people at any given time. They can comfortably sit there until their turn comes,” he said.

Mr Al Balushi said there was no big rush yesterday, being the first day.

“We estimate about 2,000 people had come during the morning session,” he said.

“We appeal to people to come early and also not to wait till the last day of the festival.

“Those who come early can leave early. For others, it may take up to five or six hours to process their papers.

“We therefore appeal to companies to co-operate with us by allowing their workers to join the enrolment campaign,” said Mr Al Balushi.

The festival counters will remain open until midnight each day. The enrolment centres in Saar, Sanabis, Hidd and Sitra have been closed.

“The LMRA has drafted in 40 temporary staff for the registration project and to serve companies which approach us to cleanse the data of their workers,” said Mr Al Balushi.

He said parents did not need to take children along, but would need to fill in a form giving their details.

The first such festival was held at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre last year, when more than 50,000 expatriates registered.

From July 1, enrolment with LMRA will become mandatory for official transactions. Registration is important for renewing work visas and for travel related purposes.