Bahrain has intensified its enforcement of residency laws, leading to the deportation of 71 individuals in a sweeping crackdown. The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) conducted 1,170 inspection visits between March 2 and 8, identifying 15 irregular workers.
Coordinated efforts included seven joint-inspection campaigns across Bahrain, focusing on the Capital, Northern, Muharraq, and Southern Governorates. These operations were carried out in collaboration with Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs and local police authorities.
Since early last year, Bahrain has executed 65,739 inspections and 982 joint campaigns, uncovering 2,975 violations and resulting in the deportation of 8,011 irregular workers. Authorities stress that these efforts will continue, aiming to maintain economic stability and uphold labour market integrity.
Officials urge the public to report illegal labour activities via the LMRA website, hotline, or the government’s complaints system, Tawasul.
To curb visa misuse, Bahrain has reinforced regulations preventing the conversion of tourist visas into work permits unless backed by an official sponsor. These measures, aimed at prioritizing Bahraini workers and reducing unemployment, have led to an 87% drop in unauthorized visa conversions. Under the updated rules, only visit visas linked to a sponsor can be converted for a revised fee of BD250.
