MANAMA: The largest bloc in Bahrain Parliament is calling for tough measures against the influx of foreign workers who, it says, are unfairly competing with the local work force.
“Citizens cannot compete with foreign workers, which is an alarming situation. This is because foreigners are ready to work for low salaries,” Ali Salman, head of Al-Wefaq bloc, said in a press conference. His comments came as MPs voted in favor of a condition that expatriate workers must complete at least a year before being allowed to switch jobs.
Last month, Minister of Labor Majeed Alawi announced the new rule allowing foreign workers to switch jobs without the consent of their employers; the rule will take effect on Aug. 1. The decision aims to address the issue of greater freedom for foreign workers.
There is strong resentment among businessmen who are now rallying support from political blocs to amend the rule, which they say will harm the economy.
“We need to analyze our labor market and review labor laws. Our bloc wants to amend a clause in the law stating that a worker must be employed for one year before being allowed to change jobs,” one lawmaker said.
He stated that any laborer brought to Bahrain requires one year to simply get accustomed to the market. “If the employee then moves to another company after a year, this will entirely benefit the new company rather than the one that trained him,” he explained.
Al-Wefaq has formed a working group, which will study and submit recommendations to the authorities about the labor market conditions and requirements. Nationals constitute a mere 19 percent of the work force in Bahrain’s private sector.
