By SOMAN BABY
EXPATRIATES with expired visas will have no more chances to renew them after Wednesday, a Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) official declared yesterday.
Since the LMRA took over the responsibility of issuing work visas in July, people whose visas expired in the last 12 months were given a chance to renew them, said LMRA e-services and acting public relations manager Waheed Al Balushi.
“They were allowed to renew the visas or move to another employer within 30 days, or leave the country without paying fines,” he told the GDN.
“Starting January 1, this facility will not be available.
“All those whose visas expired have to leave the country. They will be considered illegal and there are no chances to renew after paying fines.”
Mr Al Balushi said a proper warning was issued by LMRA for those staying illegally in the country.
“Hundreds of workers have since legalised their stay through their employers, or have moved to other sponsors,” he added.
“This facility will end by the end of the year. We are determined to clean up the labour market.”
Mr Al Balushi urged expatriates who were not sure about their legal status in Bahrain to check it on the expat portal, on the LMRA website www.lmra.bh.
“Expatriates can visit the site and enter their CPR number, and view all the information about them available with us,” he added.
“People who find there are factual errors should bring it to the attention of their employers.
“The employers can then correct it by approaching the General Directorate of Nationality, Passports and Residence (GDNPR),” he added.
The website also provides each employer with the details of their employees.
Mr Al Balushi said the visits to the website have increased steadily since the LMRA started publishing the labour market reports in September this year.
The average daily visits to the site now stands at 6,000. Mr Al Balushi urged community leaders to help workers who don’t have Internet access. “They can arrange special sessions for such workers and train them how to access the website,” he added.