Pakistani workers suspicious of amnesty scheme

Manama

Despite hundreds of illegal migrants in Bahrain enjoy their newfound solace following the announcing of Amnesty, suspicion looms among the Pakistan workers regarding the benefits of the scheme. 

Speaking to DT News, Community Welfare Counselor Maqsood Qadir Shah said yesterday that a lot of people were coming to the embassy with the questions whether the amnesty scheme was genuine and they could really benefit from it. He said that the embassy was encouraging all such and giving them advice to move ahead and benefit from the scheme to make their status legal or go to back to Pakistan.

The poor working conditions and mistreatments most of these workers were provided with have contributed to their suspicions. Sorces allege that that they have reservations regarding the scheme and fear it as a programme to deport the illegal migrants.

Shah said that the worker class lacks awareness regarding such matters as they cannot read newspapers, and have no trustworthy source but the embassy. So they are coming and asking about fine details and other matters.

He added that Pakistan Embassy was going to have a formal liaison with the LMRA soon and they would make a dedicated desk in the embassy for the workers who wanted to benefit from the amnesty scheme. He said that they would soon get the Urdu translations of the Amnesty Law as well.

The Amnesty Law, introduced by the LMRA is valid till the end of the year. The main objective of the law is to provide the illegal workers opportunity to either legalise their status by obtaining a work permit or return to their homelands without facing any penalty or the fear of being blacklisted.