.jpg?20260326')
A total of 112 illegal expats have been deported following the latest round of inspection visits and joint campaigns against residency and labour violations.
According to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), 1,097 inspection visits were held between May 4 and 10, alongside 13 joint campaigns which also lead to the identification of 25 irregular workers.
The latest joint campaigns were held in co-ordination with the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA), the respective governorate’s Police Directorate, the Coastguard, the Industry and Commerce Ministry and the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry.
Majority of the joint campaigns were focused in the Capital Governorate with eight, followed by Southern Governorate (three) and one each in the Northern and Muharraq governorates.
Legal action has been initiated against the violators, the LMRA added in a statement yesterday.
Since January last year, 74,265 inspection visits and 1,067 joint campaigns have been carried out, resulting in the identification of 3,125 violations and the deportation of 8,709 irregular workers.
The LMRA affirmed that it would continue to intensify the inspection campaigns across Bahrain to address any practices that negatively affect the stability and competitiveness of the labour market or harm economic and social security.
People are being urged to report illegal labour practices and violations via its website, www.lmra.gov.bh, by calling 17506055 or via the government’s suggestions and complaints system, Tawasul.
According to official estimates, there are about 30,000 undocumented expats in the country, but that number has been reduced due to the ongoing LMRA campaigns or workers rectifying their status.
In recent years, Bahrain has enforced tough new regulations to prevent the misuse of tourist visas and to ensure those seeking employment arrive with proper work permits issued by their employers.
These measures also aim to provide job opportunities for Bahrainis and reduce unemployment by supporting citizens as the first choice for employers.
LMRA chief executive Nibras Talib earlier told MPs that the introduction of the new rules has had a huge impact, with the incidence of tourist or visit visas being converted into work permits dropping by more than 87 per cent.
Under the new rules, a visit visa can no longer be converted into a work or dependent visa without a sponsor.
However, visit visas with a sponsor can be transferred to a work or dependent visa for a revised fee of BD250, instead of the previous BD60, only if it is for the same sponsor.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))