Expats find expenses on the rise, mull alternatives

Increased expenses due to removal of various subsidies have made life very difficult for expatriates.

Ameen Nasiruddin, who has been in Bahrain for eight years, is now planning to leave Bahrain later this year.

And another expat, who asked not to be named, had to take the decision of sending  his family back to his home country to cut down expenses.

There are several expatriates like this who are unable to cope with the increased expenses and are now in a dilemma on whether to leave the country or not.  

“Low income workers, apart from the domestic workers, will be affected by this. The workers will find it very difficult to pay the rent, utility bills etc. and at the same time send money home. The increased expenses will leave a huge dent in their meager salaries. Even the lower middle class expatriates would struggle. Their salaries are not in line with the cost of living,” Migrant Workers Protection Society (MWPS) Chairperson Marietta Das said. 

She also said that those who have the burden of loans or other responsibilities might be forced to stay on.  

“It will not be easy for every one to leave the country as they have a lot of commitments. Many have borrowed money and they have families to take care of. So it certainly won’t be easy for a few to leave the country,” she added.  

Nasiruddin, who is planning to leave the country later this year, said, “In four years time the cost of living here is going to be too high, I would not be able to pay the bills. It’s better to leave now,” he said. The expat, who send his family back to his home country, said, “This is the most difficult and depressing choice that I had to make.” 

Meanwhile, a rumour that a thousand students from Indian School Bahrain(ISB) had applied for their transfer certificate as they prepared to leave the country was swiftly denied by the School Chairman Prince S. Natarajan. 

 “The news is entirely false,” he said. 

When asked if there were students to leave the school because of the financial situation of expatriates, he replied: “I cannot comment on this but lets hope for the best.”