Bahrain declares 6-month amnesty
Illegal Bangladeshi migrants in Bahrain can legalise their stay taking advantage of a six-month general amnesty that comes into effect from tomorrow.
Simultaneously, undocumented Bangladeshis staying in the country would be able to return home without facing punishment during the amnesty period.
The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) of Bahrain disclosed the amnesty offer for foreign workers in its website yesterday.
Currently, around 1,15,000 Bangladeshis are working in different sectors in Bahrain. Of them, 36,572 are believed to be illegal, said Bangladesh embassy officials in Manama.
Maj Gen K M Mominur Rahman, Bangladesh ambassador in Manama, advised the Bangladeshis to avail benefits of the offer.
The LMRA also said the foreign workers, who will leave Bahrain during the amnesty period, might return in any future date without obstacles.
”We offer this opportunity to all those who may have found themselves on the wrong side of the law to rectify their situation without having to pay penalties or face legal procedures,” said Ausamah Alabsi, chief executive officer of LMRA.
“We aim to remove as many people as possible from this vulnerable position of being illegal and subject to exploitation, and give them the opportunity of a new start without financial or legal costs,” he added.
Alabsi also stressed that there would be no penalty fees and therefore no worker should pay anyone for this service, stating that “it is illegal to collect money from workers for the services offered by the amnesty either by employers or middlemen.”
However, illegal foreign workers, who face criminal or travel ban cases, will not be eligible for the amnesty offer, said the LMRA announcement.
Foreign workers may also visit the LMRA website at www.lmra.bh or call the LMRA at (973) 1750-6055, for more information.
In 2010, Bahrain offered amnesty programme for illegal workers. Oman also announced a similar amnesty programme for illegal migrants last March.
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