MANAMA

Professional fishermen, who have defaulted on their monthly payments to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), will be issued with new work permits and licences as an interim measure, it was announced yesterday.

These steps will last for three months until a permanent solution is found to fishermen’s problems, said Labour Minister and LMRA chairman Dr Majeed Al Alawi.

He said fishermen’s requirements would be given due consideration in accordance with Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa’s directives and a Cabinet decision on February 22.

Dr Al Alawi also directed LMRA officials to address the needs of fishermen.

More than 1,700 staged a strike from February 15, demanding protection for their livelihoods and compensation for lost earnings due to massive land reclamation. They called off their strike on Saturday on assurances by the Premier to help them.