ALMOST 68 per cent of coronavirus cases in Bahrain have been detected among expatriate workers, it has been revealed, the GDN reported today.

Latest statistics showed that 95.5pc of these migrant workers are under legal employment, while only 1.7pc are holders of the flexible work permit, 1.6pc are on visit visas and the remaining 0.4pc are domestic workers and dependants.

In an analysis of the spread of the virus in Bahrain, Labour Market Regulatory Authority chief executive Ausamah Al Absi said yesterday that 1,909 of the total 2,810 Covid-19 cases were expatriate workers.

“The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases among expatriate workers reached 1,909 as of April 26, of which 95.5pc are working under a legal employer in the country, while 1.7pc are flexi permit holders, 1.6pc are those on visit visas and the remaining 0.4pc are domestic workers and dependants,” said Mr Al Absi.

“Meanwhile, 89pc of these are legal in the country, 9pc are irregular and 2pc on visit visas.”

He also revealed during a Press conference held yesterday that a total of 13,284 expatriates have so far taken advantage of an amnesty launched by the LMRA.

The GDN previously reported that the nine-month amnesty allows undocumented foreign workers to either legalise their stay or leave as part of measures to offset the impact of Covid-19.

The move aims to target an estimated 55,000 illegal expatriates of different nationalities, known as ‘free-visa workers’.

“In line with the national efforts to limit the spread of the virus and taking into account the humanitarian conditions of migrant workers, the LMRA also announced the launch of a grace period to correct the conditions of illegal migrant workers in various categories,” explained Mr Al Absi yesterday.

“The period extends from April 1 to December 31 during which any previous violations related to work and residence in the kingdom are to be overlooked.

“Until April 26, the situation of 13,284 expatriates were corrected, who are now legal in Bahrain.”

Mr Al Absi also said that 59pc of the buildings allocated for quarantine and to accommodate 7,046 workers were supported by business owners in the country, who also assisted the LMRA in the provision of food.

“There are 2,739 men living in 42pc of the buildings designated for precautionary quarantine for expatriate workers, free of cost, and they are provided with meals, medicine and medical care,” he said.

“The LMRA has provided 23,500 meals during the past five days, and since February the authority has sent 1,719,206 educational awareness messages to expatriate workers, while 577,000 people have viewed the LMRA Facebook page.

“There is an integrated work plan in co-ordination with the Interior Ministry and the Health Ministry in monitoring the situation of the migrant workers as in identifying the names of the contacts and their place of residence, checking the building in which they live, if it belongs to the employer or free housing, providing meals and assisting those who need housing in an emergency situation.”

He also underlined other measures taken by the LMRA to help businesses during these unprecedented times such as exempting employers from all monthly fees for expats for three months until June.