MANAMA: The Bahrain government has taken more measures as part of strengthening indigenization. It is reported that there is a plan to increase the work permit fee of workers by ten per cent or more. The proposal was raised in a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa. The proposal has been placed before the members of Parliament and Shura.

At present, the Cabinet Committee has put forward three options. A fee of 100 dinars is charged for issuing and renewing a non-resident worker's permit. 72 dinars for health care expenses and 5 dinars each for businessmen with up to five workers. Businessmen with more than five workers have to pay 10 dinars per worker.

But according to the first option of the new recommendation, the fee for issuing and renewing the work permit has been increased from 100 to 200. 144 dinars for health care. And the monthly fee will be Rs 10 for businesses with up to five employees. Earlier, businesses with more than five employees had to pay 10 dinars each. But it has also been decided to increase it to 20.

The second option would increase the permit renewal fee by ten percent to 110 dinars. The percentage of health care fee will be increased from 10 to 80 dinars. In the third option, the fee for cancelling the permit issuing and renewing the permit will be 970 dinars. The health and safety fee is recommended to be 144 dinars, 50 dinars per month for a business with five employees and 80 percent if there are more than five employees. The new change is expected to come into effect from January 1, 2025.