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Discuss this article (32 Comments)Expat residency cap as early as 2010 - Minister
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Tuesday, 07 July 2009
RESIDENCY CAP: Bahrain is hoping for a five-year limit on unskilled workers in the GCC to be implemented as early as 2010. (AFP)
A residency cap for expats, limiting unskilled workers to a maximum five-year stay in any one Gulf state, could be implemented as early as next year, according to a key figure in the negotiations.
“I hope that we will push [the residency cap] in 2010, when we have the GCC summit here [in Bahrain],” Dr Majeed Al Alawi, Bahrain’s Minister for Labour, told Arabian Business in an interview.
“It should be ratified then, and implemented straight away. That is my hope, and I have been trying [to achieve this] since 2002.”
Dr Al Alawi said that the proposals were designed to prevent the erosion of Arab culture and society, and also to address the issue of expatriates applying for nationality in the Gulf.
They do not apply to skilled expatriates such as teachers, lawyers, doctors and journalists, the minister said.
“We need to protect society, and our identity as an Arab nation, without being racist,” he said. “I went to Kerala last year, and I felt I was in Bahrain. And I came back to Bahrain, and I felt I was in Kerala.”
Alwai said in May that Bahrain would scrap its existing sponsorship system for foreign workers in the hope of reducing its need for expatriate labour, a first in a region often criticised by rights groups over the issue.
Under the new regulations, foreign workers will be directly sponsored by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and therefore able to move jobs without the consent of their previous employer. The changes will be effective from next month.
The previous system, which is common in the Gulf Arab states and under which employers do the sponsoring, has long been criticised by human rights groups for placing workers at the whim of their employers, who usually take their passports.
Bahrain's population grew to about 1.05 million in 2007, the latest year for which statistics are available, on an influx of foreign workers. There are about 500,000 Bahraini citizens.
READERS' COMMENTS
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More Nationals for Jobs
Posted by Durtger on Monday 12 October 2009 at 10:22 UAE time
If the UAE is to avoid the vicious circle of importing greater numbers of guest workers each year it needs to provide more nationals for jobs.
Posted by Durtger on Monday 12 October 2009 at 10:22 UAE time
If the UAE is to avoid the vicious circle of importing greater numbers of guest workers each year it needs to provide more nationals for jobs.
UAE be smart and learn from mistakes
Posted by SR, Dubai, UAE on Thursday 8 October 2009 at 11:19 UAE time
The UAE should (unashamedly) aim to attract only the amount of labour that can add to its growth and development. Labour should be brought in as and when required, but treated fairly whilst working here. Once the labour is not required anylonger it has to return to its origin. Capping the anount of time labour can spend in UAE will solve the problem of poeple starting to feel entitled to residency here.
Obviously goverment needs to make exceptions for skilled professionals such as medical staff, engineers, financial poeple etc. Also poeple that own property should be issued residency visas to come and go as they wish, without allowing this to be abused.
Labourers get paid more than they would ever earn back home , thats why the come here in droves. The authorities provides a safe enviroment free of crime and terorism, hospitals are good, there is clean water and healkthy food for all. I think that is all one can expect from a host whilst living here.
Throwing the gates open to uncontrolled imigration to all and sundry would be a fatal mistake for the UAE, or any country for that matter. Just look at the problems Europe has created for itself by doing this (although the more liberal readers will fiercely deny this fact).
Posted by SR, Dubai, UAE on Thursday 8 October 2009 at 11:19 UAE time
The UAE should (unashamedly) aim to attract only the amount of labour that can add to its growth and development. Labour should be brought in as and when required, but treated fairly whilst working here. Once the labour is not required anylonger it has to return to its origin. Capping the anount of time labour can spend in UAE will solve the problem of poeple starting to feel entitled to residency here.
Obviously goverment needs to make exceptions for skilled professionals such as medical staff, engineers, financial poeple etc. Also poeple that own property should be issued residency visas to come and go as they wish, without allowing this to be abused.
Labourers get paid more than they would ever earn back home , thats why the come here in droves. The authorities provides a safe enviroment free of crime and terorism, hospitals are good, there is clean water and healkthy food for all. I think that is all one can expect from a host whilst living here.
Throwing the gates open to uncontrolled imigration to all and sundry would be a fatal mistake for the UAE, or any country for that matter. Just look at the problems Europe has created for itself by doing this (although the more liberal readers will fiercely deny this fact).
Misdirection
Posted by AVH on Tuesday 14 July 2009 at 23:40 UAE time
One state proposes a residency cap while another talks of permanent residence while yet another first links residence visas to property ownership and then conveniently backs out. All 3 are GCC states.
What is it, one wonders, a lack of coordination or an orchestrated misdirection?
Posted by AVH on Tuesday 14 July 2009 at 23:40 UAE time
One state proposes a residency cap while another talks of permanent residence while yet another first links residence visas to property ownership and then conveniently backs out. All 3 are GCC states.
What is it, one wonders, a lack of coordination or an orchestrated misdirection?
There we go again.....
Posted by Cash Flow Messiah, Dubai, UAE on Tuesday 14 July 2009 at 16:41 UAE time
@The Don
How is it that you guys always want to end your arguement with the vile statement of "....if you dont like it, then leave..."? You make it clear to everyone that you really dont have any concrete, valid point to make, never did.
If you cant carry a debate, why do you enter one?
Posted by Cash Flow Messiah, Dubai, UAE on Tuesday 14 July 2009 at 16:41 UAE time
@The Don
How is it that you guys always want to end your arguement with the vile statement of "....if you dont like it, then leave..."? You make it clear to everyone that you really dont have any concrete, valid point to make, never did.
If you cant carry a debate, why do you enter one?
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