A total of 446 expatriate employees hired on annual contracts at the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry have cost the government BD17 million over the past two years, it has been revealed, writes Mohammed Al A’Ali.

Minister Essam Khalaf said expatriates in the ministry only comprised 17 per cent of its total workforce.

“Expats’ budget covers their wages, allowances, health, accommodation, airfare and transportation, besides expenses for bringing their families to the country, which has cost us BD17m over the past two years,” said the minister.

“This is just 16.7pc of the total allocated budget for employees.”

The minister also revealed plans to replace expatriates in the ministry by 2024.

“Since 2018 we have let go of 48 expats and are working to replace all by 2024 under different phases,” he said, in response to a question by MP Mamdooh Al Saleh.

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