Bahrain’s streets may soon be off limits to expatriate vendors

A new law banning foreign street vendors may come into force, Tribune has learnt. This comes as a committee in the Council of Representatives recently passed a proposal that only allows Bahrainis to sell on the street, provided they obtain a permit from the concerned authorities.

The Public Utilities and Environment Committee in the Parliament approved the proposal, which also bans vendors from selling near places of worship, stating that “these activities aren’t permitted, halts traffic and risks people’s lives”.

The proposal also mentioned the negative impacts of non-permitted street vendors on licensed shops and outlets, especially small and micro businesses.

As stated in the proposal, the vendors cause recession for these businesses, and financial and economic burdens, in addition to forming unequal competition, selling products from unknown sources and violating the laws and regulations of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA).

The committee is set to refer the proposal to the 40-member Council for reviewal and voting soon.

This comes after it reviewed the matter with the relevant authorities, including Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry.

The ministry rejected the proposal, stating that it is regulated by Decree Law 35 of 2001, adding that the legislation grants municipal councils the authority of issuing resolutions that regulate the work of street vendors, mainly the condition of permitting only Bahrainis to practise such activities.

The ministry also noted to the periodic campaigns conducted by municipal councils in all four governorates against foreign street vendors, in co-ordination with LMRA, Interior Ministry, Health Ministry and other relevant authorities.