By SOMAN BABY<\/p>\n
COMPANIES are massively behind in providing up-to-date information on their expatriate workers to labour authorities, it emerged yesterday. Sixty-one per cent of companies and other employers in Bahrain have registered with the new Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA).<\/p>\n
But between them they have updated information on only 13 per cent of the country’s expatriate workforce, said LMRA acting public relations and e-services manager Waheed Al Balushi.<\/p>\n
Out of 60,981 companies and organisations, only 38,066 registered with the LMRA, he told the GDN.<\/p>\n
“These include government entities, commercial and non-commercial organisations and non-government bodies,” said Mr Al Balushi.<\/p>\n
“However, the number of individuals whose data with us have been cleansed is only 64,917, or 13pc, out of a total of 486,404 expatriate individuals whose data should be cleansed before July 1.”<\/p>\n
It is the responsibility of the employers to cleanse the data of their employees with LMRA, which will start issuing work visas on July 1, said Mr Al Balushi.<\/p>\n
“We shall soon intensify a campaign to educate the employers on the importance of data cleansing,” he added.<\/p>\n
“We want to remind both employers and employees that they will be losers if they fail to register and cleanse the data.<\/p>\n
“Applications from such companies and individuals will not be processed by LMRA.”<\/p>\n
Mr Al Balushi said companies should present photocopies of their employees’ passports and CPR cards at the LMRA.<\/p>\n
“It may take a week or two, and sometimes even a month for the verification process to be completed,” he added.<\/p>\n
“A password is given to all companies which register and to check their Bahrainisation percentage on our website.<\/p>\n
“The password can also be used to check the accuracy of their data. We welcome feedback from such companies.”<\/p>\n
The LMRA board has approved the Bahrainisation percentage required for the private sector in Bahrain, based on the nature of their activities.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the LMRA is continuing its mission of enrolling all expatriate workers into its system.<\/p>\n
The total number of expatriates enrolled so far has reached 203,200, said Mr Al Balushi.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By SOMAN BABY COMPANIES are massively behind in providing up-to-date information on their expatriate workers to labour authorities, it emerged yesterday. Sixty-one per cent of companies and other employers in Bahrain have registered with the new Labour Market Regulatory Authority … Continue reading