By SOMAN BABY
MANAMA
NEW DELHI: Bahrain is to abolish its sponsorship system by the end of this year, Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi revealed yesterday.
Category Archives: Gulf Daily News
Dole for jobless expats planned
Dole for jobless expats planned
By SOMAN BABY from New Delhi
EXPATRIATE workers could soon receive unemployment benefits until they find a new job, it emerged yesterday.
This will be for a limited period, which will be defined by the Labour Ministry in co-ordination with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), said Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi.
Minister warns against ‘unscrupulous’ agents
Minister warns against 'unscrupulous' agents
By SOMAN BABY from Kochi
INDIAN job seekers have been advised in Kerala by a Bahraini minister not to fall into the trap of unscrupulous recruiting agents. The call came from Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi, who presented certificates to a group of job seekers who completed a pre-departure orientation course in Kochi, Kerala.
The course was conducted by Non-Resident Keralite Affairs’ (NORKA) welfare agency, the Roots.
Respect at last for workers
HOW sad for businesses that the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) intends to introduce laws allowing workers to choose who they work for.
No longer will companies be able to “buy” workers and treat them as slaves. No longer will they be able to unilaterally dictate terms and conditions. No longer will they be able to just stop paying workers for no reason.
For the first time, workers will actually have rights, which will have to be respected by their employees. No wonder businesses are complaining about this.
As for the comments of BCCI contractors’ committee vice-chairman Nedham Kameshki that “there is no single businessman in Bahrain who will accept this”, there are many businesses in Bahrain who already accept this, and allow their staff to move freely if they wish to.
However this doesn’t happen very often because these same companies treat their staff well and the staff return that reward with their loyalty.
Interesting concept. Others should try it.
Firms delaying LMRA updates
By SOMAN BABY
COMPANIES are massively behind in providing up-to-date information on their expatriate workers to labour authorities, it emerged yesterday. Sixty-one per cent of companies and other employers in Bahrain have registered with the new Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA).
Update workers’ data firms urged
By SOMAN BABY
COMPANIES in Bahrain have been urged to update the data of their expatriate employees with Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) before Monday.
The call came from LMRA acting public relations and e-services manager Waheed Balushi, who said the response from the companies had been very slow, despite repeated appeals.
Register before deadline says LMRA
By SOMAN BABY
EXPATRIATES who have not yet registered with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) have been urged to do so before July 1.
The number of expatriates already enrolled with the LMRA has crossed 200,000, said LMRA’s acting manager for public relations and e-services, Waheed Balushi.
Labour fees ‘will pay for training’
By SOMAN BABY
INCREASED labour fees which come into force next month, will be given back to employers in the form of trained Bahrainis, a top businessman said last night. The money will be used to provide professional world-class training to Bahrainis, said Sharif Ahmadi, who is also the vice-chairman of the Labour Fund.