By SOMAN BABY

MANAMA

MANY firms could be in for a shock when they get their first bills from the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) next month, says an official. They will be charged for all expatriate employees on their records and those who have not updated them could face bumper bills, said LMRA e-services and public relations manager Waheed Al Balushi.

THE data of only 28 per cent of expatriates in Bahrain has been cleansed by employers, despite several appeals to companies from the LMRA over several months, he told the GDN.

The LMRA has stored the data of nearly 500,000 expatriates.

“This is according to the records received from the General Directorate of Nationality, Passports and Residence ,” said Mr Al Balushi.

“Some of them may have left the companies they were working for and others may have even left the country.

“But we are going to bill the companies according to the data available with us, which may come as a shock to these establishments.”

Mr Al Balushi said the LMRA had requested companies to present photocopies of their employees’ passports and CPR cards at the LMRA.

“That will help us to delete the names of those who are not employed by them,” he added.

“Companies can check the status of their employees by visiting our website, after feeding in their commercial registration numbers.

“Perhaps it may tally with their own records. But the employees will find it difficult to carry out their official transactions with LMRA if the data is not cleansed.

“We, therefore, appeal to all companies to present the documents for cleansing the data before June 30, even if their employees have enrolled with the LMRA.”

Mr Al Balushi said companies which have ignored the LMRA’s appeal to cleanse the data have no excuse if they get a wrong invoice which does not match with the number of employees on their rolls.

“Once an invoice is issued, they will find it hard to change it in the government system,” he added.

Companies cleansing the data will be informed about the Bahrainisation percentage required, said Mr Al Balushi.

“The LMRA board has approved the Bahrainisation percentage required for the private sector in Bahrain, based on the nature of their activities,” he added.

“Companies which have already registered with us along with the documents of their employees, will be able to find out about the percentage from the LMRA website.”

The LMRA will start issuing work visas for expatriates in the private sector from July 1.

This is to coincide with the new labour fees coming into force on that date.

Under the new law, the work visa for an expatriate in the private sector will cost BD200 for two years and the employers will also pay a levy to the LMRA of BD10 every month for each expatriate worker.