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Bahrain launches six-month amnesty scheme

The amnesty starting from July 1 will cover runaway workers and those who work with expired or cancelled work permits.

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Manama - Bahrain on Saturday announced a six-month general amnesty for all illegal foreign workers which will start from July 1. The amnesty will be implemented by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) in association with the Interior Ministry and organisations concerned.

Osama Al Absi, CEO of LMRA, called upon companies and individuals to benefit from the campaign as fines and administration violations will be cancelled during the amnesty. He said penalties will be enforced after the campaign ends.

The last amnesty was organised by Bahrain in 2007, in which 5,000 foreign workers corrected their status with 1,300 returning to their home countries and 3,700 staying back in Bahrain after duly completing their legal paperwork.

The amnesty will cover runaway workers and those who work with expired or cancelled work permits. Those who wish to leave the country could do so after finalising their paperwork at the Nationality, Passport and Residence Affairs and their embassies. Those without passport could obtain temporary travel document from their embassies. Workers who wish to continue working in Bahrain should find employers who are willing to recruit them.

shamada@khaleejtimes.com

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