By SOMAN BABY

NEARLY 19,000 expatriates registered with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) during the first four days of its enrolment festival.

However, organisers are disappointed with the low turnout, especially on Friday, when only 2,748 people came to register.

“We kept the festival at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre open during weekends, including Friday, for the convenience of expatriate workers,” said LMRA e-services and public relations manager Waheed Al Balushi.

“Despite being a holiday, the turnout was very low. The exhibition hall has a capacity to register about 7,000 people daily.

“The aim of the festival is to complete the registration of all expatriates.”

The total number registered until Saturday night is 18,856.

These included 4,730 on Wednesday, 5,751 on Thursday, 2,748 on Friday, and 5,627 on Saturday.

Indians topped the list with 10,451. This was followed by 4,633 Bangladeshis, 1,540 Pakistanis, 683 Filipinos, 294 SriLankans, 488 Nepalese and 767 others.

The LMRA has already enrolled about 290,000 expatriates, out of a total estimated number of around 500,000.

“We hope to enrol the remaining people before the festival ends on June 21,” said Mr Al Balushi. He said the aim was to register an average 6,000 to 7,000 people a day during the festival .

“There are 30 counters, with four counters for families and special areas for disabled people and executives,” said Mr Al Balushi.

The LMRA earlier decided to have an appointment system to try to avoid overcrowding or a repeat of the chaos experienced at some enrolment centres last month. The plan was to give appointment cards between 6.30am and 8.30am, and between 2.30pm and 4.30pm daily.

“However, as there is no rush unlike our expectation, we do not want to keep any appointment sytem,” said Mr Al Balushi.

“People are free to visit the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre anytime between 6.30am and 10.30pm.”

During the first three days, the LMRA gave appointments for companies to send their workers after Tuesday.

“Such people are welcome to visit the centre as per the appointment,” said Mr Al Balushi.

The LMRA has drafted in 40 temporary staff for the registration project as well as to serve companies, which approach it to regularise data of their workers.

From July 1, enrolment with LMRA will become mandatory for official transactions.

Registration is important for renewing work visas and for travel related purposes.9