Hundreds of employers in Bahrain took to the streets in protest yesterday over "crippling" labour fees they claim are forcing them out of business.

More than 500 Bahrainis, most of them small contractors as well as small and medium business owners, protested for several hours outside the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) headquarters in Sanabis, said a report in the Gulf Daily News, our sister newspaper.

It was the first of a series of weekly protests spearheaded by the Bahrain Contractors' Association (BCA), to demand the abolition of the monthly labour fees of BD10 per expatriate employee.

Bosses are also angry at having to pay BD200 every two years in visa fees for every expatriate employee and claim they are being bogged down by red tape, instead of getting on with their businesses.

"We are dying a slow but sure death," said Isa Al Jassim, who owns a garage and a small contracting company.

"We are literally made to run from pillar to post at the LMRA, with no one bothered to attend to us. And, on top of all that is this BD10 monthly fees, which is driving us to despair."

Al Jassim said times were tough and no one was able to pay this extra money. "They want us to pay this fee, they want us to come and sort out the paperwork and they want us to become computer literate overnight and fix appointments online. It is one huge mess," he said.

"We are struggling to make ends meet and our families are suffering. The government has to help us tide over this crisis."

Nader Alawi, who runs a small advertising agency and employs seven expatriates, said the time has come for them to even think of selling their blood to pay the LMRA fees.

"These people are no less than bloodsuckers and they have no concern for our lives. The time is not far away when our families will be disowning us," he said.

Alawi said the income levels were so bad that many of the contractors had fallen into debt and are facing family problems.

"My wife and children are unhappy and there are times I do not feel like going home."

Ebtisam Abdulla, who operates a clearing agency, is equally distraught. "Why are we being made to suffer," she asked.

"We are told the only way to get over this problem is to hire Bahrainis, but where do I get Bahrainis from?

"Getting Bahrainis is one thing, where do I get Bahrainis who work and want such jobs?"

Abdulla said rents and services were costing more. "I have to pay more salaries and over and above that is this BD10 fees. How do I support my family?" she asked.

Contractor Abdul Aziz Al Badr said another point of contention is that all work permits should be renewed right on time.

"We are hard pressed for cash and we are not able to cough up the money to renew the permits," he said. "If we are a day late, we are told to pack up the employee in a day. This is not fair. We have to be given a chance."

Mohammed Isa, a small business owner, said this whole issue was bad for the country. "The whole system is a mess," he declared.

"We have to fill a form at one place, get the CPR from another, apply for a work permit, come back another day and if it is not ready, have to go around in circles and spend a lot of money. This is a headache."

Contractors declared last Wednesday that they planned to stage a series of protests every Sunday over the BD10 fee and other issues they claim are crippling their businesses amidst a global recession.

Protesters' spokesman Rahim Hasan said if this fees continued any longer, many more businesses would shut down. "Around 50 have closed down already and owners are in debt," he said.

BCA chairman Nedham Kameshki said last week that BD120 million had already been collected in fees and contractors wanted to know where the money has gone.

"While we support the LMRA and the reforms process, we have a right to know where t