Officials and businessmen clash over plan to abolish sponsorship system in Bahrain

Manama: The reiteration by Bahrain's labour minister of the decision to abolish the sponsorship system is likely to accelerate the seemingly inexorable move towards a fierce clash between the labour authorities and the business community.

Majeed Al Alawi, who has been in charge of the labour portfolio since 2002, on Tuesday reiterated that Bahrain would abolish its sponsorship system by the end of this year to prevent the violation of human rights and stop all forms of human trafficking.

"The aim of Crown Prince and Economic Development Board Chairman Shaikh Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa is to abolish the practice of sponsorship, liberalise the labour market and allow free movement of labour, irrespective of their nationality," he was quoted in press reports at the end of a four-day working visit to India.

He said that an International Labour Organisation (ILO) expert and Bahrain's Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) would draft the measures for the abolition of the system.

However, the move is being resisted by the business people who have been complaining that their interests would be threatened by such decisions.

Earlier this month, they launched a scathing attack on Article 25 of Act 19 regulating the labour market and which allows an expatriate worker to transfer, without the consent of his employer, charging that the LMRA was ignoring their interests.

"The LMRA is keen on enhancing the image of Bahrain in the field of human rights at the expense of the local people's interests," businessmen charged on April 18 during a debate over the merits of Article 25.

"The article is very harsh against the business community and should be carefully reviewed before it is implemented," they said.

Adel Masqati, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice president, said that the business community was worried about the costs and time needed to bring extra workers and the divulgation of company secrets to competitors.

More than 500,000 expatriates live in Bahrain, out of a total population of 1,040,000. Indians with 280,000 make up the largest community.