CLOSE to 600 Filipinos previously staying illegally in Bahrain have benefited from a financial assistance programme promoted by their government.
The Philippine Embassy helped them legalise their stay in the kingdom by applying for the flexi work permit scheme.
For each, the mission paid the BD449 application fee, a recurring monthly fee of BD30 for the first two months and a BD5 registration charge.
Last October, the Philippines government announced the programme to help 1,300 of its workers who were staying illegally in Bahrain.
The funds were provided by Manila’s Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) through the embassy in Manama.
The flexible work permit scheme was launched by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) in July 2017.
Under the scheme, expats can sponsor themselves for two years and work with multiple employers on a freelance basis.
“We have registered 588 Filipino workers (from October to December 2018) who signed up, and took advantage, of the flexi scheme,” said LMRA chief executive Ausamah Al Absi.
“The fees (of the flexi work permits) were covered under the financial assistance programme launched by the Philippines government.”
The embassy will continue to accept applications from domestic workers as long as their services were terminated as of October 31.
Mr Al Absi said the LMRA was receiving good response to the flexi scheme, especially from the Philippines. “We will continue to accept applications of runaway domestic workers under the flexi work permit until April,” he said.
He further revealed that latest figures showed a total of 17,100 expatriates had applied for the scheme until Thursday.
The flexible work permit is valid for a renewable two-year period and comes with a residence permit.
Holders can access free healthcare services and travel in and out of the country.
“The Philippine Embassy in Bahrain and its government have backed the flexi work permit scheme because of which we have 588 workers covered so far,” added Mr Al Absi.
Meanwhile, DFA Under-Secretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola who visited Bahrain last year praised the labour reforms in the country in her latest Facebook post yesterday.
She mentioned about His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa welcoming her and assuring her of Bahrain’s support for the Philippines.
Ms Arriola also described Mr Al Absi as “the maverick behind the flexi visa system”.
“I was awed by their facilities, particularly their shelter for migrant workers in distress,” she wrote.
“They have a one-stop-shop for grievances in LMRA itself.”
Ms Arriola said her country’s relations with Bahrain “blossomed” to a solid and committed partnership by the “mass regularisation of our undocumented workers through the flexi visa system.
“For the first time in any Middle East country, runaway domestic workers can now have a fresh start of life through the flexi visa.”
People can check if they are eligible for the flexible work permits by sending their CPR numbers via text to 33150150 or visiting the website lmra.bh.
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