By SOMAN BABY
BAHRAIN’S construction industry is bracing for a crisis, with sources predicting thousands of job losses.
Industry leaders predict a major slump in the second half of the year, owing to the global economic crisis.
Clearing agents ‘must be Bahrainis’
By SOMAN BABY
A CALL to reserve all jobs as clearing agents for Bahrainis went out to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) yesterday.
The LMRA, which took over the responsibility of issuing work permits to expatriates in July last year, allows companies to assign two representatives each, whether Bahraini or non-Bahraini, to clear documents with the authority.
Help on way for women married to expats
THE children of Bahraini women married to expatriates could soon be given the same rights as their Bahraini counterparts.
The Shura Council yesterday decided to include a new article into a government-drafted law that gives expatriate wives married to Bahrainis equal treatment.
Fees clamp on firms paying off
By SOMAN BABY
A CRACKDOWN on companies which failed to pay labour fees is paying off, say officials. Around 6,000 firms had failed to pay fees to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority over the last six months, it emerged yesterday.
But many are now beginning to pay, to avoid cumulative fines and the threat of being forced to send home their foreign workers.
Fund for needy expats
BAHRAIN has become one of the 17 countries where needy Indian workers will benefit from a special fund instituted by the Indian government.
Under the scheme, the Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry will allocate Rs1.5 million (about BD12,000) towards the Indian Community Welfare Fund, which will be administered by the embassy.
Bahrainisation targets cut for big companies
By soman baby
THE Bahrainisation target at major construction companies employing more than 500 workers has been reduced from eight to five per cent, it was announced yesterday.
The decision has been taken by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) board following appeals made by the construction sector, said LMRA chief executive Ali Radhi.
Jobs vow as global fears grow
MANAMA
THE number of complaints filed by terminated employees dropped to 2,821 last year from 3,442 in 2007, the Labour Ministry announced.
The number of complaints reported last month was 159, compared with 231 in December 2007.
Labourers’ town awaits go-ahead
Labourers' town awaits go-ahead
By BASMA MOHAMMED
MANAMA
THE fate of a Cabinet-approved BD13 million township for labourers has been awaiting a ministry green light for over two years, according to developers. Work on Al Enma’a House’s Labour Township project in Hidd was scheduled to begin in October 2006 and completed within 20 months.
Still offering a helping hand
Still offering a helping hand
By GEOFFREY BEW
A SOCIAL worker who dedicated 30 years of her life in Bahrain to help people in distress is planning to carry on the same work as she returns home to her native India next week. Salma Bala and her husband Anand, who moved to the island in 1979, are flying home to Hyderabad to spend more time with their families.
Trucks ban delay upsets workers
By ANIQA HAIDER
MANAMA
BAHRAIN human rights activists yesterday expressed concern over the Cabinet’s decision to postpone a ban on transporting workers in open trucks for four months. The ban, which was implemented last Thursday, was yesterday postponed to May 1.