Can the relevant authorities please let us know the rules for transferring a housewife to a work visa under the new Labour Market Regulatory Authority rules?

CL

Part-time option?

It is appreciable that with LMRA’s

new system of registration of expats, the labour market is becoming more organised.

This will make the hiring process smoother for employers as well as employees, and no one can employ any workers who are not under their sponsorship.

However, I have one question regarding domestic workers like housemaids, drivers, gardeners, etc, which can perhaps be clarified by the LMRA.

Every household in Bahrain does not need (and can’t afford) an army of full-time maids, drivers or gardeners. But part-time help is necessary and perhaps more desirable.

It has been observed that lately (after the exodus of illegal workers under the government’s amnesty scheme), there is a dearth of ‘free visa’ domestic workers, who largely provide this part-time support in Bahrain.

Many of my acquaintances have been complaining of “increased demand for salary and perks” by the available part-time workers.

My question is – is there an option available to the residents of Bahrain for legally hiring part-time domestic helpers?

If not, it would perhaps be desirable for the LMRA to consider one, which would largely put an end to the ‘free visa’ racket, which is the major cause of labour exploitation and other related issues.

Such an option could be in the form of creation of an agency regulated by the LMRA, through which part-time help could be legally hired.

Alka Kumra.