Urgent proposal to deport illegal workers approved

TDT | Manama

The Council of Representatives approved a proposal at its meeting yesterday to urgently request the government to deport illegal workers from the Kingdom. One of the most prominent sponsors of the proposal, MP Khaled Buang, stressed the necessity of sending such workers home immediately to help the national efforts combatting the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

He said that their deportation would help reduce the great financial burden incurred by the Kingdom due to the costs of examinations and meals that need to be provided in quarantine, along with other matters.

A large number of expatriate labour workers have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks, largely due to their living conditions in their accommodations where many reside together in small rooms.

However, it was announced yesterday by Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) Chief Executive Ausamah bin Abdullah Al Absi that of the 1,909 registered COVID-19 cases among expatriate workers, only nine per cent of them were illegal.

Those who had legal permits comprised 89 per cent of the total, while two per cent had visit visas. Al Absi added that between April 1 and April 26, a total of 13,284 permit statuses had been corrected, leading to a decrease in the number of incorrectly registered or undocumented workers in the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, the Council also approved a proposal with an urgent desire to extend the registration period in the Tamkeen Labour Fund, allowing business owners to register via its website for an additional two weeks.

MP Issa Al Dossary was one of the most prominent sponsors of the proposal. He pointed out that some commercial institutions were unable to register previously due to technical issues, and that many institutions have special arrangements with some authorities to complete their registration.

Tamkeen is currently providing a business support programme as part of its ongoing national efforts to combat the repercussions of the coronavirus and the impact it has caused on economic levels. This is in accordance with the Royal Directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

The programme has been designed and catered towards the private sector’s needs, based on the Royal Directives and the government’s announcement, as part of its stimulus package for the economy, to support adversely affected companies. Businesses interested in applying for support began their registration in mid-April, with Tamkeen announcing a two-week registration period on the tamkeen.bh website.