A new crackdown on Bahrain's illegal visa black market is due to commence within a matter of weeks, a report said.

Tens of thousands of foreign workers in Bahrain are thought to be working in the country illegally, reported the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Many buy employment permits to get into the country even though there is no guarantee of work, before illegally accepting whatever jobs they can find upon arrival, reported the Gulf Daily News,our sister publication.

They are referred to as 'free visa' workers, but authorities are now stepping up their efforts to track them down '“ while also going after the Bahrainis who illegally sell them visas for as much as BD1,500 ($3,946) for two years.

Decree

Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) chief executive Ausamah Al Absi said the new crackdown followed National Assembly approval of a Royal Decree last September, which allows authorities to go after Bahraini companies that illegally sell visas.

It also enables the prosecution of middlemen who falsify documentation, allowing Bahraini companies to secure visas for 'ghost workers' who they will never actually hire.

'The new law approved during the very last parliamentary session of 2014, before the elections, will allow us to address the 'free visa' issue better,' said Al Absi.

'We will be able to go after those who hire them (illegal workers), those who bring them to Bahrain and those who provide false information to get visas.'

He said people who created 'ghost companies' for the sole purpose of securing visas to be sold on the black market would also be targeted.

'We are cracking down on the visa issues '“ there will be fines and may be jail terms,' he added.

Previous legislation prohibited the recruitment of foreign employees in Bahrain without a work permit and outlawed the practice of employers seeking compensation in exchange for granting work permits.

However, the new rules include an additional clause that specifically prohibits the falsification of documents to obtain work permits.

They also ban employers from retaining work permits that they don't require.

Since the decree was enacted, the LMRA has been co-ordinating with the Interior Ministry, Labour Ministry and Public Prosecution on compiling a database of alleged offenders and drawing up a plan of action.

Al Absi said authorities were now almost ready to step up the campaign against the 'free visa' racket.

'We will be starting the crackdown in a matter of weeks, not months,' said Al Absi.

Offenders face three months to one year in jail and fines of more than BD1,000 ($2,631), while those who repeat the offence could be jailed for six months to two years, with fines of at least BD2,000($5,262).

In an interview with the GDN last November, Bangladesh Ambassador K M Mominur Rahman said there were 36,752 Bangladeshis working in Bahrain illegally.

He said he believed they accounted for 80 per cent of illegal workers in Bahrain, although the figures could not be verified.

Migrant Workers Protection Society (MWPS) chairwoman Marietta Dias welcomed the 'free visa' crackdown and described it as a positive step.

'We have been saying it for many years '“ unless the sponsors who are dealing in this free visa system are dealt with the problem will continue,' she said.

'Especially in a small country like Bahrain, if these middlemen are prosecuted it will make a tremendous difference as it will make these sponsors think twice and should reduce the number of free visas available (for sale).

'If this really happens, it will be music to our ears, but they (authorities) will have to stay committed to it and will need to regulate and monitor the situation actively.'

Victims

She explained that many of those who entered Bahrain on visas bought on the black market ended up becoming victims of unscrupulous recruiters.

In some cases, they end up being forced to pay for the visa twice.

'It would reduce the amount of migrants being scammed. In this trade, there is no such thing as a receipt,' said Dias.

'This is something we see very often. A worker will come to Bahrain and give the passport to a sponsor to renew their visa and will pay him, but then the sponsor will deny ever receiving the money and will keep their passports until they get paid again.

'It is a big recurring problem that should decrease if they actually go after these middle men.'- TradeArabia News Service