Bahrain to ease rules on hiring foreign workers

8220;The private sector will still be required to employ a certain percentage of Bahrainis8221; even after the new rule comes into effect, Labour Minister Majeed Al Alawi was quoted as saying by the Gulf Daily News.

8220;However, they will get some concession in the percentage to be maintained. It will vary from one category to another. For example, the construction sector 8211; which now has to maintain 10 per cent Bahrainisation 8211; will be required to maintain only 8 per cent starting from July,8221; he said.

The Labour Market Regulatory Authority LMRA will start charging BD200 Rs 20,930 every two years for expat work visas and employers will also pay a monthly levy of BD10 Rs 1046 for each foreign worker starting on July 1 next year.

Businessmen have criticised the move and claimed it could put medium and small firms out of business.