MP proposes amendment to limit work permits for expatriates to two years

TDT | Manama                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

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Member of Parliament Muneer Surur has introduced a proposed amendment to Bahrain’s labour law, aiming to regulate the issuance of work permits for technical and administrative professions that are occupied by expatriates.

The amendment would add a new clause (g) to Article 24 of Law No. 19 of 2006, which governs the labour market.

The proposed clause would limit work permits for these professions to a two-year period, renewable only once.

Renewals would be granted only under exceptional circumstances, such as when a suitable Bahraini candidate cannot be found, or for specific highly specialised or rare professions as determined by the relevant authority.

The amendment aims to serve the public interest by streamlining the work permit process and preventing the prolonged stay of expatriate workers in unnecessary cases.

This, according to Surur, will help create more job opportunities for Bahraini nationals seeking employment.

The proposed law also seeks to ensure that the presence of foreign workers is limited to specific periods, allowing the country to benefit from their expertise while fulfilling the intended purpose of the work permit.

Proposal Surur stated that the proposal aligns with the government’s recent decision to abolish flexible work permits.

He emphasised that the amendment supports national efforts to prioritize Bahraini citizens for job opportunities and to curb the influx of foreign workers, which he argues contributes to unemployment in the Kingdom.

The proposed amendment will now go through the parliamentary process for consideration and debate.