Ghost workers employed to circumvent Bahrainisation quotas could be a thing of the past with new policies being announced by Labour Minister Jameel Humaidan, businessmen said.

They admitted that because they could only recruit two expatriates for every Bahraini, some companies were paying Bahrainis to stay at home just to have them on their books.

'We have to hire unqualified Bahrainis so that we are able to hire qualified expatriates,' said one retailer.

'This is common in Manama where Bahrainis will just come and collect their money every month. They are shown as employed on paper so that we are able to remain in business.'

A construction company owner said the practice was also common in his sector. 'I have so far been forced to hire Bahrainis even though there is no-one in Bahrain who fits the bill,' he explained.

'I have hired them on paper to show to the authorities I have Bahrainis on my staff so that I can get visas. With the new regulations in place, I will not have to employ workers who are unqualified and incapable of working with me.' – TradeArabia News Service