Bahrain halts work permits to SL citizens over COVID-19

Bahrain has stopped issuing new work permits to citizens of Sri Lanka along with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, which have been placed on the ‘red list’ amid domestic lockdown as part of anti-coronavirus measures, a media report said.

“The decision was put in place on May 24 and we are still unsure of when it will be lifted,” Bahrain’s The National newspaper quoted a spokesperson of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority as saying.

“If individuals holding citizenships from countries that are on the red list are inside of Bahrain, then they can apply or renew their work permits.”

The gulf state has extended a national lockdown and closed shopping malls, stores, restaurants, coffee shops, swimming pools, beauty salons and barber shops for another two weeks.

Bahrain has started a 10-day quarantine for all non-vaccinated travellers and a mandatory PCR test prior to and on arrival.

Bahraini citizens and residency visa holders arriving from red list countries are allowed in but must present a negative PCR test taken no more than 48 hours before flying, the report said.