A total of 624 inspections and 12 joint campaigns were conducted by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) from January 12 to 18, leading to the identification of 21 illegal workers and the deportation of 118 residency law violators. A majority of the joint campaigns, eight, were focused in the Capital Governorate, followed by two in the Southern Governorate and one each in the Muharraq and Northern Governorates.
These joint campaigns were held in co-ordination with the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs and the respective governorate’s Police Directorate.
“The inspection campaigns and visits resulted in monitoring a number of violations related to the provisions of a number of regulating laws, especially the LMRA and the residency laws in Bahrain,” said a statement yesterday.
“The authority affirms the continuation of joint co-ordination with government agencies to intensify inspection campaigns in all governorates, and to 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,” it added.
Since January 1, 2024 a total of 57,974 inspections have been conducted along with 890 joint campaigns, resulting in the identification of 2,787 violations and the deportation of 7,208 irregular workers.
The LMRA urged people to report labour violations through the electronic form on its website, www.lmra.gov.bh, by contacting the call centre at 17506055, or via the government’s suggestions and complaints system, Tawasul.
Bahrain has in recent years 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.
The GDN reported last week that Parliament unanimously approved a proposed legislation that prohibits expatriates from turning tourist/visit visas into work permits.
The addition to the 1965 Foreigners (Migration and Residency) Law will now be reviewed, debated and voted on by the Shura Council.
It will be only effective if approved by the upper chamber of the National Assembly and ratified by His Majesty King Hamad.
The Cabinet has called for a rethink on the proposed amendment, asserting that new rules issued in February last year were aimed at cracking down on the misuse of tourist visas.
The Cabinet also 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.
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, incurring a financial burden.
Meanwhile, LMRA chief executive Nibras Talib has told MPs that since the introduction of tough new rules, the incidence of tourist or visit visas being converted into work permits had dropped 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.
Top stories for today:
Gulf women’s ability to lead praised
High-level Bahrain delegation set for Davos talks
Bahraini Identity Forum opens submissions for research papers
&uuid=(email))