A plan to ban the conversion of tourist visas into work permits has been knocked back by the Shura Council, with ministers arguing that existing enforcement has already cut such cases by 87 per cent.
They warned that the proposal would only add costs for businesses without solving any real issue.
The upper house threw out the amendment to the Aliens (Immigration and Residence) Law of 1965 and sent it back to Parliament for another look.
The draft law aimed to introduce a new Article (7) bis, barring visit visa holders from switching to work permits in all cases.
Proposal
But after going through the proposal put forward by MPs, the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and National Security Committee decided there was no need for it.
Committee Chairman Dr Ali Al Rumaihi, pointed to a ministerial decision already in place, saying it had slashed visa conversions.
“The Interior Minister’s decision has reduced tourist visa switches by 87 per cent,” he said.
Inspections
“That shows the authorities are on top of the matter. The committee agreed that inspections by the Interior Ministry and the Labour Market Regulatory Authority are doing the job well enough. Instead of rushing into new laws, we should let these agencies keep refining their work.”
Council member Khalid Al Maskati said the proposal could make things worse.
“Blocking these visa conversions could leave more Bahrainis out of work,” he said. “Our focus should be on making sure Bahrainis get first go at jobs. The Interior Ministry has made it clear that strict rules already govern these visa switches, and the Labour Market Regulatory Authority is keeping a close watch. What the law is trying to fix is already being handled.”
Breathing room
Committee rapporteur Nancy Khadhori said the current system allowed for some breathing room, with Article 18 of the law giving authorities leeway in granting and renewing residency.
Foreigners can stay in Bahrain if they can support themselves and their dependents, and there are already rules in place allowing certain visas to be converted into work permits if the right conditions are met.
Another worry was the extra cost for Bahrainis hiring expat workers in roles locals rarely take, such as domestic staff.
Travel
At the moment, employers aren’t responsible for paying for a worker’s travel if their visa expires.
If the amendment went through, Bahrainis could be forced to cover the cost of sending a worker home and bringing them back on a work visa — a needless financial strain.
Ali Al Aradi said there was no need for heavy-handed legislation when the current system was flexible enough to deal with shifts in policy.
Tourist
“Rules can be adjusted as needed,” he said. “When a tourist becomes a worker, their home country should be notified, as should their previous employer if it applies. This is not something Bahrain alone controls, which is why it’s best left to administrative decisions rather than hard-and-fast laws.”
The Shura Council wrapped up the debate by agreeing that the current laws and rules were enough to deal with the issue.
With too many downsides and no clear gain, the draft law was rejected and sent back to Parliament for another round of talks.
