By BASMA MOHAMMED
BAHRAIN’s decision to no longer issue work permits to Bangladeshis has prompted a mixed response from the Bahraini and expat communities.
The GDN yesterday spoke to people in the Manama suq and an area of Salmaniya known as the “Bangladesh colony”, where many illegal workers are known to live.
Labour Ministry officials said yesterday that it had nothing to do with the ban decision.
“The ministry is not responsible in specifying the nationalities of workers being brought to Bahrain,” said its public and international relations director Subah Al Dossary.
MANAMA: Tens of thousands of Bangladeshis face an uncertain future after it was confirmed yesterday that Bahrain would not renew their work permits once they expired. It follows an announcement by the Interior Ministry late on Monday that no new work visas would be issued for Bangladeshis, following the murder of a Bahraini on Friday. The news has sent shockwaves through the Bangladesh community in Bahrain, which currently numbers around 90,000. However, Bangladeshi citizens are still being urged to register with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority to avoid becoming illegal. Small contracting firms are expected to be worst hit by the decision, which was made after Bahraini Mohammed Jassim Dossary was murdered in a row with a Bangladeshi mechanic at a Hamad Town workshop.
MANAMA: Bahrain has stopped issuing work permits to Bangladeshi nationals. The restriction follows directives issued late last night by Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa.
This was revealed by Ministry entry-points, search and follow-up assistant under-secretary Colonel Yousuf Al Ghatam in a statement.
By SOMAN BABy
ALL expatriates, who have not yet registered at the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), should not panic over rumours that they would be jailed or deported.
There is no need to rush or panic and everyone will be given enough time to register, said LMRA e-services and public relations manager Waheed Al Balushi.
By BEGENA P PRADEEP
Thousands of expatriates who turned up at The Indian Club yesterday to register themselves with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) ended up causing chaos and damaging club property.
It was announced in yesterday’s newspapers that the LMRA enrolment centre at the Sanabis Club had been closed and shifted to The Indian Club in Gudaibiya for convenience from yesterday to Wednesday.
By BEGENA P PRADEEP
NEW labour laws are driving up the cost of employment visas sold on the black market, the GDN has learned.
Expats desperate to find work in the Gulf are reportedly paying up to BD2,000 for visas, compared to BD1,000 a few years ago.
Expats rush to LMRA centre
By MANDEEP SINGH
HUNDREDS of expatriate workers flocked to a Labour Market Regulatory Authority fingerprinting centre yesterday, some as early as 4am, only to be turned away by noon.
The rush at the centre in Sanabis, one of four set up by the authority across the country, came as a deadline for expatriates to register before July 1 draws near.
By SOMAN BABY
THE Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) yesterday appointed the Strategic Publicity and Advertising Company (SPAC), which operates the Asian radio channel Voice FM 104.2, as its strategic media partner.
LMRA chief executive Ali Radhi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Voice FM chairman P Unnikrishnan.
EXPATRIATES who have not yet registered with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) were yesterday told not to panic following a major rush at its centres.
The LMRA plans to hold an enrolment festival next month and urged expatriates not to pile into its already-crowded four registration centres.