LMRA told to rein in market
by mahmood on 12/09/07 at 11:48 am · email · print
Businessmen last night demanded a shake-up to the labour market rules to protect employers’ interests. They accused the new Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) of failing to come up with new solutions to old problems.
The LMRA should discipline the market by tackling runaways and restricting expatriates’ ability to switch jobs, rather than making it easier for them.
Businessmen expressed their fears that visas of expatriate employees would be not renewed as LMRA pushed for greater Bahrainisation into numerous sectors.
A large number of businessmen were present at the open meeting with LMRA acting chief executive Ali Ahmed Radhi held at the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), where they voiced their concerns with what they called crippling laws that would damage the market rather than fix problems.
The labour market reforms are expected to begin next year and LMRA is trying to enlighten businessmen with the procedures they have already taken and those underway, said Mr Radhi.
“Bahrainisation tops our plans and we have already prepared a study on getting more Bahrainis into the labour market, but it would not be applied until we discuss it with businessmen, as we are doing regarding fees,” he said.
“We are currently working to ensure that problems associated with runaway workers are being addressed, as we try to discipline the market.
“The LMRA is doing its best along with the concerned embassies and employers to inspect places and ensure that there are no runaway workers there, but in the end it are the businessmen themselves who are employing runaway workers.”
“We will look into the problems of individual businessmen as we try to help revive the labour market and will ensure that less problems are found, than those currently being seen.
Al Khayam Construction Company owner Shaikh Ahmed bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa said there was no link between government organisations, as they had different figures that didn’t match.
“I have 96 labourers registered under my name at the Labour Ministry, 104 at General Organisation for Social Insurance (Gosi), 240 registered for vocational training and 88 at General Directorate for Nationality, Passports and Residence.
“There is no exact number for the employees I have and I am refusing to pay the Labour Ministry BD12,000 for training fees. This is why they are refusing to renew permits of my remaining 15 employees. Imagine!
“I have won a court case against 86 runaway expatriate employees, but where are they now? Most have fled the country and the rest are on their way.
“Who is paying the price? I am!”
“I have a grade-A construction company and the Defence Ministry and Works and Housing Ministry have assigned me projects to do but I can’t, because the Labour Ministry wants me to pay an amount that are more than the workers I have at the moment.
“They have wrong information and do not know the exact number of workers I have. The link between all concerned authorities is a bluff.”
Shaikh Ahmed said the ministry had asked him to present personal account statements, photographs of his establishment’s sign and of its interior.
“Are we children to do so? We are respected businessmen, and putting us out of business is something we would not accept.
“Let the LMRA look into our problems first before coming up with hollow regulations that would push more businessmen into bankruptcy.”
Taqi Mohammed Albaharna Trading Establishment human resources and administration manager Mohsin Maki Mohsin said that allowing expatriate workers to change sponsors was wrong, because it would mean that businesses would suffer.
“This is unfair, because we train them and turn them into skilled labourers and in the end another competitor would tell them to create problems and take them away.
This is wrong and this LMRA rule should stop.
Bahrain Contractors Association vice-chairman Sayed Mohammed Al A’ali said the LMRA was too fast and was forcing its rules and regulations on businessmen in such a short notice.
“Why can’t LMRA wait until 2009 instead of 2008 to activate its plans?”
“The fees LMRA is planning to introduce is high and it would certainly affect small businessmen.
He said that before forcing new rules and regulations, the problem of runaway workers should be solved.
“Changing expatriates with Bahrainis should be done through a long-term plan and not in months. Bahrainis should be trained from school to enter the labour market and not in two or three months.”
Mr Al A’ali said the employer should have the right not to renew visa for an expatriate labourer, and ban him from entering the country for two years.
“Going to a competitor would certainly affect business.”
GDN – 12 Sept, ’07<
