Over 350K expats sacked in Bahrain

Manama : More than 350, 000 expat workers were released from their workplaces during the past five years, according to the latest figures.

According to Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA)’s data, work contracts of 47,216 non-Bahraini employees were terminated in 2015 alone.

The residency permits of 82,333 expats were renewed last year, while 44,279 were newly registered in the same year. 

On the other hand, 9,800 Bahrainis were released from their jobs during the same period. 

According to Labour and Social Development Ministry, an increase in the number of locals, who got their work contracts terminated, was recorded in 2011 and 2012, due to the sad events witnessed by the Kingdom during that phase.

“It’s noteworthy that most of these cases were dealt with and were reinstated in their previous jobs,” the Ministry stated.

This information came within the reply of  the Minister of Labour and Social Development Jameel Humaidan to parliamentary queries sent by MP Ghazi Al Rahma on the number of terminated local and non-Bahraini workers during the past few years.

The Minister also revealed that “sacked Bahraini employees receive 60 per cent of the salaries they received in their previous jobs, until they are employed.”

However, the workers are only entitled to this allowance if they were sacked from their workplaces, as Minister Humaidan underlined that “this doesn’t apply to employees who willingly resigned from their work.”