Summit ignores residency cap plan for workers

Doha: A plan to limit the number of unskilled foreign workers in the region was not discussed in the Doha summit, a Gulf official told Gulf News, saying it will go to the leaders meeting next year in Muscat.

"The ministers of labour are still discussing it. It was not ready in time for the Doha summit," which ended on Tuesday, Bahraini Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi said.

The plan proposes a residency cap of six years for unskilled expatriate workers. They will be given a residency of three years which can only be renewed once. It is aimed to curtail the influx of foreign workers in the Gulf which is a source of concern.

The plan was revealed by Al Alawi in an interview with Gulf News in September. "We are planning to meet in a few weeks time to iron out details before we send it to the summit," to be held next year in Oman, Al Alawi said yesterday.

Another official said there was "some resistance from a couple of states," which called for further study.

The final communique of the Doha Summit did not make any reference to the issue but said the six states will continue their efforts to provide jobs to citizens.

At the closing session, Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed, of Oman, commended on the positive resolutions of the 28th summit, stating that "the GCC body will continue to provide shelter and security so that we achieve future ambitions of our people".