A Member of Parliament in Bahrain, Muneer Surur, has introduced a proposed amendment to the country’s labour law, specifically targeting the issuance of work permits for technical and administrative professions held by expatriates. The amendment aims to add a new clause (g) to the existing Article 24 of Law No. 19 of 2006, which governs the labour market in the country. If approved, the proposed clause would limit work permits for these professions to a two-year period, renewable only once. Renewals would only be granted under exceptional circumstances, such as the unavailability of suitable Bahraini candidates or for highly specialized or rare professions as determined by the relevant authority.
The main goal of this proposed amendment is to streamline the work permit process and prevent the prolonged stay of expatriate workers in Bahrain in cases where their presence may not be necessary. By limiting the duration of work permits for certain professions, the amendment aims to create more job opportunities for Bahraini nationals seeking employment. Additionally, the amendment seeks to ensure that the presence of foreign workers is limited to specific periods, allowing the country to benefit from their expertise while also ensuring that the intended purpose of the work permit is fulfilled.
According to Surur, the proposed amendment aligns with the government’s recent decision to abolish flexible work permits. He emphasizes 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 before potentially becoming a part of Bahrain’s labour law. It is seen as a step towards addressing the issue of unemployment among Bahraini citizens and ensuring that foreign workers are only present in the country when necessary.
In summary, the proposed amendment to Bahrain’s labour law introduced by Member of Parliament Muneer Surur aims to regulate the issuance of work permits for technical and administrative professions held by expatriates. The amendment would limit work permits for these professions to a two-year period, renewable only once, in exceptional circumstances. The purpose of the amendment is to streamline the work permit process, prevent the prolonged stay of expatriate workers in unnecessary cases, and create more job opportunities for Bahraini nationals. 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 prioritizing job opportunities for Bahraini citizens and curbing unemployment caused by the influx of foreign workers. The proposed amendment will now undergo the parliamentary process for further consideration and debate before potentially becoming a part of Bahrain’s labour law.
