Bahrain yesterday unveiled a new plan to introduce a flexible work permit format for foreigners.The new contract would serve as a legal alternative to employing illegal workers in the country.

Chaired by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Cabinet endorsed the scheme, based on a recommendation submitted by the executive committee.

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, was present.
The Labour Market Regulatory Authority would be authorised to issue the two-year “flexible work permit”.

Under the scheme, foreign workers will be allowed to work, on a temporary basis, with an employer or an individual, providing the job does not require a professional licence to be exercised.

The new format does not include runaway workers nor does it allow foreigners to leave their current employers, with whom they are under contract, to benefit from the new scheme.

A memo was presented at the session, featuring results of meetings which focused on the proposed flexible work permit.

The meetings brought together officials representing the labour force, industrial and commercial sectors to study all proposed alternatives.

“The aim is to ensure economic flexibility and enable the private sector to employ workers to carry out temporary and casual work instead of illegal workers,” Cabinet secretary general Dr Yasser Al Nasser said in a statement.