MANAMA
THE government must introduce a minimum wage for all expatriates to safeguard the rights of Bahrain’s foreign labour force, say human rights activists.
BHRS adviser Abdulnabi Al Ekri said employers continue to treat expatriate workers like “slaves”, paying them BD50 a month and forcing them to work seven days a week.
THE Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) said yesterday that Bangladeshis in Bahrain are still required to register, despite their work permits not being renewed following the ban.
“While fresh work permits and renewals have been banned, there is no reason why they should not come and get themselves registered and fingerprinted,” LMRA chief executive Ali Radhi told the GDN.
PRIME Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa yesterday issued an edict relating to fees levied by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA).
According to the decision, fees will be reimbursed in full should the LMRA abrogate the work permit before the expatriate worker’s arrival.
KUDOS to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA). I had the same experience as Mr Aloma (GDN, June 20) during the registration process for expatriates.
I went to Bahrain International Exhibition Centre for registration in May and was treated in a similar manner.
WHY is it that my company, a private hospital, is still holding on to our passports despite repeated calls and warnings from the Labour Ministry and the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) that it is illegal and against international law?
By SOMAN BABY
MANAMA
MANY firms could be in for a shock when they get their first bills from the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) next month, says an official. They will be charged for all expatriate employees on their records and those who have not updated them could face bumper bills, said LMRA e-services and public relations manager Waheed Al Balushi.
By Soman Baby
EMPLOYERS in Bahrain have so far reported runaway cases involving 2,000 expatriates to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), it was revealed yesterday. The LMRA had earlier urged employers to report all runaway cases before June 30 to avoid fees and legal liability.
Expats 'will not be here forever
MANAMA: Bahrain must train its own workforce “before it’s too late”, a top businessman warned last night. “We cannot depend on expatriates forever,” said Sharif Ahmadi, who is also the vice-chairman of the Labour Fund.
We shall find it extremely difficult in future to get qualified and experienced expatriates from Asian countries, which are experiencing an economic boom.
“Before it is too late, we have to train our own people.”
He was speaking at a Labour Fund celebration attended by more than 1,000 people, at the Gulf Hotel’s Gulf International Convention Centre.
By SOMAN BABY
MANAMA
APPLICATIONS to issue or renew expat work permits will no longer be accepted by the Labour Ministry. It stopped receiving applications yesterday as it prepares to hand over responsibility for issuing work visas to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) on July 1.
WITH increasing rents, increasing prices and decreased exchange rate of the dinar, it is quite difficult for expatriates on low salaries (less than BD150 per month) to maintain themselves and also look after their families back in India, Sri Lanka, etc for whom they have to send money every month. It is unrealistic to expect that with this one low income they can sustain themselves. LMRA should come up with a mechanism whereby these low-paid expats can do part-time jobs also – legally – to earn that vital extra buck. After all, people do part-time jobs in the US, UK and Europe – and those countries are doing pretty well.
I would like other readers with ideas about this, to contribute
Thinker.