I don’t understand one thing about the working system at the ministries and government offices and that is why it takes aeon for a simple task like updating records on computers when it is just a click away. A case in point is the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA).

Our company was one of the first to register its employees with the LMRA. After everything was done, we got our passports with renewed residence permits and new updated CPRs.

However, the LMRA seemed to have forgotten to update its records, when it should have been the first to do so. After all, wasn’t it the LMRA which made a hue and cry about registering employees with it?

It is at the same time ironic and agonising. How long does it take for an official at the LMRA to just key in the updates, when the record has already been renewed at the residency and immigration directorate and at the Central Informatics Organisation (responsible for issuing CPR cards)?

Because of this, I cannot apply for visas for my loved ones, as first the LMRA has to “cleanse” my records. I even emailed the LMRA, but they replied with an automated message.

I sent another email as per their instructions and am yet to receive a reply. I know the LMRA is overburdened with work, but with my papers all straight, there shouldn’t be any problem. Will someone at the LMRA please tell how long I have to wait, as it has already been a month?

Just another guy

An LMRA spokesman said: “The reader might have faced difficulties because his employer did not cleanse his data on time (despite our calls, notifications and newspaper advertisements since 2007). Data cleansing is the responsibility of the employer, the process of updating is automated and it is not just a click of a button as one might think. It is a far more complicated process that synchronises and validates the information between all the relevant government departments.

“If there are any discrepancies they must be investigated and dealt with on a case by case basis. As the reader has already contacted us, we need his employer’s representative to follow the case up with our customer service department, so that he can apply for his family visas soon.

“More information is available on our website www.lmra.bh and the FAQ’s section http://www.lmra.bh/en/faq_category.php?id=5, our contact number is 17 50 60 55, e-mail: lmra@lmra.gov.bh”.