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Bahrain’s crackdown on undocumented expats continues, with around 550 individuals from different nationalities deported last month, according to the latest figures released by a government watchdog.
This brings the total number of illegal expats deported from the country since 2024 to more than 15,000.
According to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), a total of 4,675 inspection visits covering shops across the kingdom were held in September, alongside 172 joint campaigns.
These inspections led to the detention of 67 irregular workers and the deportation of 547 illegal expats.
The overwhelming majority of the joint campaigns were focused on the Capital Governorate (74), followed by Muharraq (57), Northern (22) and Southern (19) Governorates.
The inspections were held in co-ordination with the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs, the General Directorate of Crime Detection and Forensic Evidence; the police directorates of the respective governorates and the Civil Defence and the Coastguard.
The latest LMRA infographic showing inspection campaigns and visits conducted by different government entities
Also involved in the latest round of inspections were the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry, the Industry and Commerce Ministry, Health Ministry, the Social Insurance Organisation, the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority and the Electricity and Water Authority.
“The inspection campaigns and visits also resulted in monitoring violations related to the provisions of a number of regulating laws, especially the Labour Market Regulatory Authority and the residency laws in Bahrain,” said an LMRA statement yesterday, adding that legal measures were taken regarding the observed violations.
The Authority said it would continue co-ordinating with government agencies to intensify inspection campaigns in all governorates and address any violations or practices that negatively affect the stability and competitiveness of the labour market or harm economic and social security of the kingdom.
Since January 2024, a total of 145,607 inspection visits and 2,815 joint campaigns have been conducted, resulting in 4,304 detentions and the deportation of 15,210 irregular workers.
Inspections were temporarily halted for about two months following the Iranian aggression which began on February 28.
Last year, the authority carried out 54,600 inspections, in addition to 795 joint campaigns, resulting in the identification of 860 irregular workers and the deportation of 4,776 expats.
The highest number of inspections (8,537) occurred in October, while the peak in deportations (470) was recorded in June.
Citizens and residents are being urged to support the government agencies’ efforts in addressing illegal labour practices by reporting violations on the LMRA website, www.lmra.gov.bh, by calling its call centre on 17506055, or via the government’s suggestions and complaints system Tawasul.
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