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.

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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.

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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.