A proposal has been presented to raise five-fold fees for issuing and renewing work permits for expats in 20 professions, as well as residency permits for their family members.
The current labour fee is BD200 covering two years for all expats, and the proposed plan is to increase to BD1,000.
The fees include associated costs such as the no-objection certificate (NOC), entry visa, residency permit, re-entry visa, medical examination and national ID card.
Additionally, a monthly fee of BD10 per foreign worker would be applied. For the first five workers, the monthly fee would be reduced to BD5.
For family members of foreign workers and foreign employers, the bill proposes a BD200 fee for issuing or renewing residency permits for a two-year period.
This fee also includes NOC, residency and re-entry visa costs. Employers would pay BD200 for each standard work permit or renewal.
The proposed amendments to the 2006 Labour Market Regulatory Law was presented by MP Jalal Kadhem Al Mahfoodh yesterday.
He believes it seeks to bring about a more balanced labour market by prioritising the employment of qualified Bahraini nationals and reducing dependency on expatriate labour.
The bill authorises the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) to collect all applicable fees.
Violations of the proposed law would carry penalties ranging from BD500 to BD2,000.
In the accompanying explanatory memorandum, Mr Al Mahfoodh emphasised the national objective behind the bill.
“Employment is a right and duty for every citizen,” he said.
“This proposal is about fairness, opportunity, and ensuring that Bahraini citizens are prioritised in our job market – especially when we have competent national talent available.”
He added that the current low cost of hiring foreign workers discourages businesses from hiring Bahrainis despite the availability of government support programmes, such as Tamkeen’s wage subsidies, training and development initiatives.
“The current fee structure makes it more attractive for employers to hire foreign workers over Bahrainis,” said Mr Al Mahfoodh.
“By increasing the cost of hiring expatriates – particularly in fields where we have qualified citizens – we encourage the private sector to invest in local talent.”
The proposal is also aimed at easing the financial strain on public services by increasing fees for family members of foreign workers.
“Residents and their families use public services such as health and education. The proposed fees help ensure they contribute fairly to these services.”
The MP believes that the revenue generated can be reinvested into programmes that enhance national workforce readiness and help achieve the kingdom’s economic diversification goals.
The 20 suggested professions subject to the BD1,000 fee include: Accounting, finance, and banking; Business administration, human resources, and marketing; Legal professions, including law and Sharia; Health sciences, medicine, and pharmacy; Cybersecurity and artificial intelligence; Engineering and interior design; Education and rehabilitation professions; IT, communications, and computer science; Languages, literature, media, and public relations; Security and professional safety; Agricultural and fisheries sciences; Regulatory and inspection roles; and Heavy truck driving.
The proposal will now be reviewed by the relevant parliamentary committee for further legal and policy assessment following referral by Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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