Expats could be prohibited by law from turning tourist (visit) visas into work permits, if MPs have their way.
Legislators are set to vote on a proposed addition to the 1965 Foreigners (Migration and Residency) Law, during their weekly session on Tuesday.
The government-drafted legislation is based on a proposal by five MPs led by foreign affairs, defence and national security committee chairman Hassan Bukhammas in January last year.
The Cabinet has called for a rethink, asserting that new rules issued in February last year were aimed at cracking down on misuse of tourist visas.
Under the rules, which came into effect 11 months ago, a visit visa can no longer be converted into a work or dependant 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.
This was announced at the time by Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) Under-Secretary Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa following directives by Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, who issued edict 16/2024.
“These measures, carried out in co-operation with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), are based on government moves to tighten visa transfer rules,” said Shaikh Hisham.
“It also comes within the framework of efforts to provide job opportunities for citizens and reduce unemployment,” he added.
“The move seeks to tackle the exploitation of visit visas.”
The Cabinet pointed out that tough measures were already in place with local hosts signing declarations that the tourist visas would not be turned into work permits.
“Work permit requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis and the proposed rule will hinder immigration officials as it seeks to impose a blanket ban,” it added.
“It also contradicts articles within the law that give Bahrainis the right to hire expats to fill vacancies within their establishments in line with employment legislations.”
The Interior Ministry backed the government’s stance pointing out that the proposal was ‘unrealistic’ since it meant the employer would have to send a foreign worker back home and then fly him back, which is a financial burden.
The Tourism Ministry told MPs that the plan, if implemented, would harm the tourism sector since it is based on assumption that visitors will misuse tourist visas, reflecting a degree of mistrust in them.
“Misuse of visas can be tackled through administrative rules and not by law, leaving approvals or rejections to officials concerned to determine according to their own assessment of each and every situation,” the ministry said.
The Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, and Labour Ministries also backed the government’s stance.
LMRA chief executive Nibras Talib said since the introduction of the tough rules, visa transfers had dropped by more than 87pc.
The National Institution for Human Rights, however, said the legislation did not contradict any international conventions or treaties and was purely organisational.
“The tourist visa is a clear loophole that is being misused to get expats into the country and prioritise them for vacancies over Bahrainis, and legislators have every right to intervene out of concern for citizens’ welfare,” the NIHR said.
Strategic Thinking Bloc spokesman Khalid Bu Onk told the GDN that the visa transfer ban should extend to all expats visiting the country on tourist or dependent visas.
“If they want, they can return to where they have come from and then apply to obtain work permits after completing all necessary procedures,” he added.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
More reports – Pages 3, 5 and 7
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