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.
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
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.
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.
By SOMAN BABY
THE data of only 26 per cent of expats in Bahrain has been cleansed at the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), according to officials.
Out of 485,934 expats available on the LMRA data, only 125,943 have been cleared so far, said the authority’s e-services and public relations manager Waheed Al Balushi.
By SOMAN BABY
EMPLOYERS have been rushing to get work permit applications into the Labour Ministry, before it hands responsibility to a new authority.
The last day for applications to issue or renew work permits for expatriates at the ministry is Sunday, said Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi.
THIS is with regard to frequent appeals by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) urging expatriates to legalise their stay in Bahrain.
I went to register on June 11; I preferred the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) and was there at a very busy time – 6.30pm. In fact, Friday’s GDN confirmed that that Wednesday’s turnout was the highest – 6,999.