Employers not interested in LMRA procedures

Employers not interested in LMRA procedures, says Radhi

Bonny Mascarenhas
Staff Reporter

Employers should take the time to understand and absorb the new procedures of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) how it will benefit them in the long run said its CEO, Ali Radhi.

“Fingers are being pointed at us saying that we have made things difficult and are creating problems in the market,” Radhi told the Tribune, “But our processes are simple and easy to understand. The employers have to just take a little time to sit and go through our methods.”

He said that many employers had not submitted the documents of expatriate employees even though the LMRA has been repeatedly asking them to do so. “With the widespread Press coverage and our subsequent announcements and communications every employer should be aware of our system to issue work visas and about labour fees for expatriate employees,” Radhi said.

But the Tribune discovered that in reality employers were apparently unacquainted with the workings of the LMRA. Many small and medium establishments still relied on their agents to process their paperwork and were clueless that they could conduct work visa applications and even pay their labour fees online. Some confessed of not registering with the authority because there was still some time before the residence permits of their expatriate employees needed to be renewed.

“Any employer who would like to have a clear explanation of our procedures can contact our call centre and set up an appointment,” Radhi said and added a LMRA staff member would sit with them and put in plain words how the system can work for them