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Companies seeking to recruit foreigners while failing to achieve the Bahrainisation quota could be forced to pay higher labour fees of up to BD2,500 for an employee, if MPs have their way.
Parliament is set to debate the proposal put forth by five legislators, led by Hanan Fardan, during the weekly session on Tuesday.
It seeks to impose a BD500 labour fee for expat workers with average monthly wages of BD200, BD1,000 for those with salaries between BD201 and BD500, BD1,500 for those earning between BD501 and 800, BD2,000 for those earning between BD801 and BD1,200, and BD2,500 for those taking home more than BD1,200.
The new fees, if approved, would be an addition to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) expat work fees that’s paid every two years.
The LMRA pointed out that it has already introduced a flat BD500 fee for those wishing to recruit an expatriate while not adhering to the minimum Bahrainisation percentage.
“The BD500 fee has resulted in a drop in requests to hire expats off the Bahrainisation percentage from 3.9 per cent in 2018 to 2.5pc in 2022,” LMRA chief executive Nibras Talib said in a written response to MPs.
“A total of 3,372 establishments failed to achieve the Bahrainisation quota in 2018 and hired expats. However, the numbers dropped to 2,270 in 2022,” he added.
He said there were 86,440 registered establishments in 2018 and 91,010 in 2022.
The Bahrain Chamber refused to back the proposal saying that the higher fees would lead to inflation in market prices.
Also set for debate and vote is a proposal by MP Muneer Suroor to reserve a minimum of 70pc jobs for Bahraini higher degree holders amongst faculties in government and private universities.
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) said it announces job vacancies at government universities for Bahrainis to fill up posts and if not available, expats are recruited on temporary contracts.
Also set for debate is a proposal to monitor private universities’ fees presented by MP Dr Mariam Al Dhaen. The Higher Education Council stated that it was already keeping track of the fees.
A proposal to address problems created by expat bachelor labourers in residential areas, presented by five MPs led by second deputy speaker MP Ahmed Qarata, will also be debated.
The Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry, the Interior Ministry, Bahrain’s three municipal councils and the Capital Trustees Board pointed out that new rules would be introduced to govern lease contracts.
In another proposal by the same group, led by Mr Qarata, MPs want government homes to be distributed according to application date rather than approximation to family residential area.
A request for open debate to address dilapidated homes and extended families living together will be voted on during the weekly session on Tuesday.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
Another report – Page 7
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