Expat insurance plan hits snag
By SOMAN BABY
PLANS to introduce compulsory medical insurance for expatriates were dealt a body-blow yesterday, with the revelation that legislation to make it possible had fallen between the cracks.
Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa affirmed yesterday during a meeting with the president of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry that the kingdom’s economic stability had not been affected by the world crisis.
Shaikh Khalifa said that the government was monitoring the world economic situation and was able to take appropriate decisions to come out with a new economic vision to help resolve any possible impact of the crisis.
By REBECCA TORR
PRIVATE sector salaries in Bahrain have risen by an average of 10.5 per cent in the last year, a study has revealed. Workers in the construction and banking sectors enjoyed the highest wage increases, reports the Middle East online recruitment firm GulfTalent.com.
HIS Majesty King Hamad, in the presence of Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, yesterday hailed the successful strides made by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA).
He was speaking as he received Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi, who submitted the annual LMRA 2007 Report, at the Sakhir Palace.
By SOMAN BABY
MORE than 500 new work visas a day are now being issued by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA).
The daily inflow of new visa applications is steadily increasing, said LMRA e-services and public relations manager Waheed Al Balushi.
I asked my company to hand over my
passport because I wanted to travel to Dubai for the Eid holidays for three days. But to my surprise my boss refused.
He told me that I was not allowed to get hold of my passport because I was working for them and that I might run away.
MORE than 25,000 companies have so far paid the first monthly bill for employing expatriates to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), say officials.
The July invoices were sent to more than 50,000 companies by early last month and last month’s invoices by last Saturday.
By Soman Baby
EMPLOYERS in Bahrain have so far reported more than 10,000 runaway workers to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), it was revealed yesterday .
By SOMAN BABY
FEARS that increased labour fees would force smaller establishments out of business have been proved wrong, says an official. More than 30 per cent of the applications submitted for new work visas at the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) are from establishments employing one to five workers, said LMRA e-services and public relations manager Waheed Al Balushi.
By SOMAN BABY
WORKERS’ lives were saved by the midday ban during the hottest months of summer, it was declared yesterday.
Most companies complied with the ban on outdoor work, between noon and 4pm, over the past two months and there were no accidents reported at construction sites during the banned hours.