Posted on » Thursday, April 07, 2011
MANAMA:
The monthly fee levied by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) on each expatriate worker has been suspended for six months. His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander, yesterday announced the measure.

They instructed concerned authorities to take necessary legal and administrative procedures to freeze the BD10 fee from April 1.

They also discussed a string of alternatives to overcome hurdles and ease burdens on the private sector, particularly small and medium businesses.

The two leaders directed the Central Bank of Bahrain to co-ordinate with banks on ways of providing facilities to businessmen, especially those who have accumulated huge debts and interest.

The Labour Ministry and LMRA have also been instructed to streamline licences for employers to fill posts, left vacant by foreign workers who left Bahrain.

HRH the Premier and HRH the Crown Prince gave directives for government-funded projects to be awarded without delay for the economy to regain the growth momentum.

They also instructed the Finance Ministry to clear unpaid government invoices from construction, purchases and food subsidies sectors.

The two leaders stressed the government’s firm resolve to help the private sector.

They also stressed their firm keenness to ease up burdens on traders and citizens and address all problems.