Pakistani workers double in Bahrain

The number of Pakistani construction workers taking jobs in Bahrain has more than doubled over the last year, according to an embassy official.

"One year ago about 700 Pakistani workers were coming to Bahrain every month for employment, many of these in the construction sector," said the Pakistani Embassy's community welfare officer Habib Gilani.

"Now we are seeing an increase of 100% with about 1500 workers arriving every month."

These figures are contrary to those reported in a leading UAE daily newspaper last week which claimed Pakistan had agreed to provide 15,000 to 20,000 workers a month to Bahrain.

Gilani rubbished the reported figures and said that although a formal agreement to exchange labour between the two nations was in the pipeline, nothing was expected to be finalised until the end of the year.

He also said that the current increase was due to the strong demand for labour across the Gulf coupled with an increase in the number of skilled Pakistani labourers.

"The Pakistani government established several training centres over the last three years which are now starting to turn out skilled workers," he said.

"Many workers are also from the rugged frontier province and have a reputation for toughness, strength and loyalty.

"Their output is also better than workers from any other area," he added.

The president of the Bahrain Contractors Association, Needham Kameski, agreed that Pakistani workers are growing in popularity.

"People are now tending to go more for Pakistanis," he said.

"Traditionally they have been good labour workers and not trade workers. Hopefully that is changing. That is where the big shortage is."