Dubai, Aug 3 : Bahrain’s move to allow expatriates to shift jobs without sponsor’s permission has been widely welcomed by overseas workers but employers said it would kill businesses
The decision to allow expatriates to change jobs without No Objection Certificates from sponsors became effective from August 1 under the Labour Market Reform Law implemented last year.

It has been welcomed by Asian workers who said employers may now pay more for experienced workers lest they will join rival firms for higher pay.

However, president of Bahrain Construction Company Nedham Kamashki feared the system would affect companies facing severe shortage of workers. He said now the workers may change jobs for marginal benefits which will affect performance of big companies. Owners of smaller firms said they may face closure if their workers were allowed to leave as they could not afford hiring new workers in times of recession.

A spokesman for the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, Waheed Al Baloshi, said Bahrain did not expect a rush of foreigners changing jobs.

It is not clear if the governments of UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, as well as other GCC states will follow Bahrain in labour reforms.