By Soman Baby
THE number of clearing agency offices working with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) has reached more than 1,200.
The Clearing Agents Association has forged stronger links with LMRA, said vice-president Ali Hasan Alsankis. “The number of offices increased from 750 to more than 1,200 in a short span of three to four months because of the increased workload,” he told the GDN.
It is very unfortunate to see a lot of companies struggling to meet the LMRA fees per employee per month.
It is especially severe on companies employing large number of staff.
I work in a construction company, which company struggles to pay the exorbitant bills every month. My company has refrained from deducting any amount from the staff salary but I know of reputed rogue companies who do so.
By SOMAN BABY
NINETY-FOUR per cent of visas for expatriate workers are being processed within the 10-day target, says the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA). It has issued 11,800 work visas a month since taking over responsibility for the private sector from the Labour Ministry, last July.
The figures were revealed at a Press conference given by chief executive Ali Radhi and Interior Ministry assistant under-secretary for nationality, passports and residence Shaikh Ahmed bin Isa Al Khalifa, at the LMRA headquarters, Sanabis yesterday.
Law to protect maids vowed
By REBECCA TORR
MANAMA
HOUSEMAIDS are to get legal protection, to stamp out the trade in human misery, including forced prostitution. A new labour law will regulate the working hours and living conditions of domestic staff such as housemaids, drivers, childminders and cooks, said Bahrain National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking head Shaikh Abdulaziz Mubarak Al Khalifa.
This is in response to R Madhavan’s appeal to the government to issue dependent visas for parents of expats, (GDN, February 22).
I am aware of at least two acquaintances in Bahrain who have obtained residence permits for their mothers.
By SOMAN BABY
ALL business owners and government organisations have been urged to verify and complete their expatriate labour records before March 31.
The call came from the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and the General Directorate of Nationality, Passport and Residence (GDNPR).
A friend of mine had a dispute with his sponsor that ended quite badly with the sponsor swearing vengeance and lodging a “runaway” complaint with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA).
Inevitably, they did patch up, resolve their work-related issues and settle down. However, this process took just over a month and now the sponsor, thanks to an LMRA ruling, cannot revoke his complaint!
A NEW decision to allow construction companies to employ more expatriates will help cut down the number of illegal workers in Bahrain, says a leading contractor.
The decision has been taken by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), changing the cap with regard to the number of expatriates who can be employed by the contractors according to their grades.
MANAMA
Professional fishermen, who have defaulted on their monthly payments to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), will be issued with new work permits and licences as an interim measure, it was announced yesterday.
These steps will last for three months until a permanent solution is found to fishermen’s problems, said Labour Minister and LMRA chairman Dr Majeed Al Alawi.
I appreciate that the LMRA is trying its best to improve services, and it has taken some good steps to develop the labour market. But without a good accounting system how do officials expect to handle the huge amount of money that is flowing in?
I have a small business with five employees. By mistake I paid labour fees for December twice.