Posted on » Tuesday, March 06, 2012
 
 
MANAMA: The policy of pro-rata Bahrainisation imposed on industrial and trade sectors is to be reconsidered.

The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) is conducting a specialised study focusing on each sector. It plans to pay a series of field visits to assess the needs of each for foreign workers. Labour Minister and LMRA chairman Jameel Humaidan has sent a letter to the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).

BCCI chairman Dr Essam Fakhro said the initiative would benefit the private sector as it tries hard to recover from the repercussions of last year’s unrest.

The chamber earlier urged the LMRA officials to streamline measure and alleviate traders’ financial commitments. It stressed the need to rethink the pro-rata Bahrainisation, citing certain jobs which do not suit Bahrainis’ qualifications.

He warned that several small and medium enterprises (SMEs) may go bankrupt – which would be detrimental to Bahraini employees.

“We receive daily calls from SMEs, requesting a lifeline to alleviate the repercussions of the economic stagnation,” he said, citing particularly LMRA fees levied on business sectors.

Dr Fakhro said that co-ordination meetings would be held soon with LMRA officials to discuss plans to reconsider pro-rata Bahrainisation.