By SOMAN BABY and MOHAMMED AL A’ALI
Published: 5th October 2007
MANAMA: New rights are on the way for expatriates in Bahrain and the Gulf as the region signs up to international treaties, it has been revealed.Expatriate workers and their families will be entitled to housing, education and health services, under global conventions, says Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi.
They could also be entitled to nationality after five years’ residency, under international labour treaties Bahrain and its neighbours will eventually have to sign, he said.
Dr Al Alawi said his proposed six-year residence cap on expatriate workers in the Gulf was off the table for next month’s GCC Summit in Doha.
By SOMAN BABY and MOHAMMED AL A’ALI
Published: 5th October 2007
MANAMA: New rights are on the way for expatriates in Bahrain and the Gulf as the region signs up to international treaties, it has been revealed.Expatriate workers and their families will be entitled to housing, education and health services, under global conventions, says Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi.
They could also be entitled to nationality after five years’ residency, under international labour treaties Bahrain and its neighbours will eventually have to sign, he said.
Dr Al Alawi said his proposed six-year residence cap on expatriate workers in the Gulf was off the table for next month’s GCC Summit in Doha.
He said the GCC Labour Ministers’ Council would not put the proposal forward for the summit agenda.
“The Gulf countries are not yet prepared to implement such a proposal,” said Dr Al Alawi.
But he said he still believed the cap necessary to preserve the identity of the Gulf.
“Based on my proposal, His Majesty King Hamad put it forward to the consideration of the 2005 summit in Abu Dhabi,” said Dr Al Alawi.
“The GCC leaders then asked the Labour Ministers to look at the proposal again and come back with their recommendations.
“It was not discussed last year and the ministers have not yet come to an agreement on presenting their recommendations.”
© Gulf Daily News