Thousands of undocumented Bangladeshi nationals in Bahrain have regularised their stay before the end of last year, it has emerged.

Most of them found new employers while others applied for the flexi work permit, according to a Bangladeshi Embassy official.

The GDN had previously reported that officials had put the number of undocumented workers of different nationalities in Bahrain at 55,000 – majority of them Bangladeshis.

The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) had announced a nine-month amnesty in April last year, urging illegal workers to either regularise their stay or leave the kingdom.

The easy exit scheme ended on December 31, with no extension or grace period announced by the authorities.

“We have seen a big drop in the number of undocumented Bangladeshi workers in Bahrain last year since the general amnesty was announced in April,” the diplomat told the GDN yesterday.

“The latest figures we have with us show that around 30,000 Bangladeshis have legalised their stay in Bahrain.

Praised

“This is a big achievement for the community and the country.”

The diplomat praised the LMRA-backed flexi work permit scheme that was launched in 2017 allowing foreigners to work in Bahrain on a freelance basis.

The scheme was designed to help stamp out the so-called “free visa” market under which foreign workers bought work permits for as much as BD1,500 and then worked illegally for other employers.

“According to our estimates around 35,000 Bangladeshis hold the flexi work permit, while others found new jobs as part of the process to regularise their stay in Bahrain,” added the diplomat.

“Bahrain authorities announced the amnesty for illegal workers last year that was also a key lifeline because many of our nationals lost jobs during the pandemic.”

The diplomat said Bangladeshis also volunteered in large numbers for Covid-19 vaccine trials last year, and many have already signed up for the vaccination.

“There was a high level of awareness among our community throughout the pandemic last year and they continue to monitor our Facebook updates or advisories.”

He added with the Covid-19 immunisation drive slowly picking up in Bahrain and other countries, they expect the Bangladesh labour market in the country to reopen soon.

Recruitment of new Bangladeshi workers in Bahrain remain suspended for more than two years.

“Things are improving now and there is a good market demand for our nationals,” said the embassy official.

“I think with the drop in irregular workers and the Covid-19 vaccine drive, we expect the labour market to fully open up soon here.”

The embassy is also co-operating with the Bahrain authorities to bring back Bangladeshis who remain stranded in their hometown amid the pandemic.

There are an estimated 165,000 Bangladeshis currently in Bahrain, forming the second largest expatriate community after the Indians.

Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Humaidan told MPs last month that around 53,000 expats corrected their stay while 5,000 left the kingdom, adding that no one was forced to leave.

sandy@gdn.com.bh

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