A total of 110 illegal immigrants have been deported from Bahrain in the last few months following a series of raids by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA).

Another 264 people were arrested during random searches that took place between January 3 and June 21, according to figures released yesterday.

Of the 69 raids, 27 took place in the Capital Governorate, yielding 279 arrests.

Thirty-six workers were arrested following seven raids in the Muharraq Governorate and 22 arrests were made during 11 raids in the Central Governorate.

Another 19 arrests were made during eight inspections in the Southern Governorate, while 16 raids in the Northern Governorate brought 18 arrests.

The plan was launched within the LMRA framework of eliminating irregular workers.

It is being run in association with the Municipalities and Agriculture Ministry and the Interior Ministry to coincide with the authority's Easy Exit scheme, launched in May.

Fines

It allows workers whose visas have expired to pay minimal fines to leave the country and escape further punishment.

Expatriates who overstay their work visas can leave Bahrain after paying a fine of BD15, while those who overstay visit visas can go after paying BD25.

An estimated 43,000 expatriates are living in Bahrain illegally, but authorities hope the scheme can help eliminate the problem.

The authority is now referring to such people as 'irregular' workers because some have not had their visas renewed by their employers as opposed to intentionally over-staying.

Rights activists earlier warned that many illegal immigrants could shun the scheme as a life outside the law here would be better than returning home.

LMRA corporate communications manager Waheed Al Balushi also revealed that the scheme could be scrapped if the response was too low.

In the figures released yesterday however, the LMRA revealed that 1,700 'irregular workers' had already taken advantage of the scheme and returned home, while a further 3,823 were waiting to follow suit.-TradeArabia News Service