Bahrain hikes fees for Expatriate workers

NATIONWIDE INTERNATIONAL NEWS

DUBAI Aug 1

Labour fees for Bahrain's expatriate workers could more than double under a proposal put to the Cabinet.

But employers and workers will get faster, simpler services in return such as instant residence permits as recruits arrive at the airport, a report in the Gulf Daily News said.

Initial government fees to bring in a foreign worker for two years would be increased from the current BD192 (US$192) to BD200, under the proposal.

Employers would also have to pay a BD10 monthly levy to the government for every expatriate employee.
This will increase to BD440 the total cost in fees to bring in a single expatriate employee for two years.

This is much less than the BD600-plus proposed some years ago, in the early stages of labour reform, the report said.

The fees have been proposed by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) following discussions with employers and other organisations and, if approved, will come into effect from January 1.
 
The initial up-front fee includes work permit fees, residence permit and return visa fees and fees for medical check-up and CPR, Labour Minister and LMRA chairman Dr Majeed Al Alawi said.

"The proposal is to increase this to BD200. Besides, the employer will have to pay BD10 every month as a levy to the government for each expatriate worker," he said.

"We finalised this proposal in consultation with about 40 stakeholders involved, including the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry."

(DubaiPhotoMedia)