The Hindu : Kerala News : Bahrain amnesty to be delayed Gulf round-up

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Thursday, Jul 26, 2007
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Bahrain amnesty to be delayed Gulf round-up

Dubai: Bahrain, which had announced general amnesty for illegal foreign workers from next Wednesday, might have to delay its plans for finalising preparations.

The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) is finalising preparations for the amnesty and a new date for it is expected to be announced next week.

Meanwhile, the LMRA is holding a meeting of the Ambassadors of countries whose nationals will benefit most from the move, LMRA chief executive Ali Radhi was quoted as saying by the Gulf Daily News recently.

The meeting, which will be attended by officials of the embassies of labour exporting countries including India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the Philippines, is expected to take place at the LMRA headquarters in Sanabis on August 1. Under the amnesty, hundreds of illegal immigrants will be allowed to regularise their stay or leave the country without penalty.

Contingency plan

Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty said the embassy would have a contingency plan in place to cater to the large turnout of amnesty seekers.

“We shall ask New Delhi to provide us extra staff and Indian organisations to encourage maximum people to benefit from the move,” he was quoted as saying.

The basic purpose of the amnesty, said Mr. Shetty, should be to ensure proper justice for all concerned.

“The scheme should help those brought to the country on visit visas and being exploited by their agents or sponsors,” he said. — PTI

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