THOUSANDS of runaway domestic workers in Bahrain are being given the opportunity to regularise their status under a new initiative.
This is the first time domestic workers are being included in the flexible work permit scheme that was launched in July last year.
However, only those who have been absconding from their employers before November 1 are eligible to apply for the visa.
Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) chief executive Ausamah Al Absi said this was a “limited time offer”.
“We are now allowing domestic workers to apply for the flexible work permit scheme,” he told the GDN yesterday.
Backlog
“This is only for a limited time; we are hoping to clear some backlog of cases related to domestic workers who did not avail of the previous amnesties or regularisation pathway in the past.”
He said there were fewer than 5,000 undocumented domestic workers in Bahrain.
The flexi work permit allows illegal expatriates with expired or terminated work permits to sponsor themselves and work for multiple employers.
It is valid for two years, after which point it must be renewed, and comes with a residence permit.
The permits, available from the LMRA branch in Sitra, are aimed at combating the illegal visa trade – in which expats shell out as much as BD1,500 to buy residence permits.
Applications from undocumented domestic workers who have court cases against them will be reviewed before being granted the new permit, said Mr Al Absi.
He added that the flexi permit system had received a good response.
“We have signed up over 12,000 expatriates for the scheme, and the numbers are increasing.”
When the scheme was launched authorities said they intended to issue 48,000 permits until 2019, generating as much as BD56 million.
Over two years a flexible work permit costs BD1,169, including BD200 for a work visa, BD144 healthcare fee, a BD30 monthly fee and a one-time deposit of BD90 to ensure travel tickets can be refunded in case recipients wish to return home.
There is also a one-time BD15 discounted fee to be paid by a person whose residency has expired.
Holders can access free health care services and travel in and out of the country freely.
Last month, the Philippines government announced it would pay the flexible work permit fees to help its citizens legalise their status in Bahrain.
The Philippines Embassy will pay the BD449 flexible work permit application fee on their behalf, as well as the recurring monthly fee of BD30 for the first two months and a BD5 registration charge.
With domestic workers now being included in the scheme, the Philippines government plans to regularise the status of at least 3,000 of its undocumented workers living in Bahrain.
In a statement yesterday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Manila said it welcomed the inclusion of irregular Filipino workers in the initiative, which followed negotiations with the LMRA.
“This is in line with the DFA’s efforts to seek pathways for regularisation of our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in implementation of the mandate of President Rodrigo Duterte to spare no effort to protect our nationals overseas,” said DFA Under-Secretary for Migrant Workers Sarah Lou Arriola.
She said the programme, which is unique to Bahrain and a first in the Middle East, addresses the vulnerabilities associated with domestic work.
“These reforms are, to our mind, one of the most progressive among the GCC and demonstrate to the world that a receiving country and a sending country can co-operate to protect migrant rights to their mutual benefit,” said Ms Arriola.
The DFA said there are now 267 previously undocumented Filipinos in Bahrain who have received their visas after applying for the flexible work permit.
People can check if they are eligible for flexible permits by sending their CPR numbers via text to 33150150 or visiting the website lmra.bh.
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