Bahrain’s Labour Authority Chief to visit SL

Ausamah bin Abdullah Al Absi, President of LMRA in discussion with the Ambassador of Sri Lanka, Dr Saj U. Mendis, at the Corporate Head Office of LMRA in Manama

Bahrain’s Labor Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) Chief Executive Officer and President Ausamah bin Abdullah Al-Absi has undertaken a visit to Sri Lanka on an invitation by the Government of Sri Lanka. The position of President of LMRA is equivalent to that of a Cabinet Minister of the Government in Bahrain. 

The LMRA is the body which has been vested the sole authority and powers to regulate and to control work permits and authorisation for expatriate/migrant employees and self employed, in addition to issuing of licenses for manpower and recruitment agencies as well as addressing labor market reforms, protection of employees and all other concomitant issues related to expatriate/migrant employment in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The LMRA is the apex body in the country with regard to expatriate/migrant employment and is highly influential vis-à-vis the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Al-Absi is accompanied by two advisors from LMRA on his official visit to Sri Lanka, this week. 

The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Dr A. Saj U. Mendis, after a number of bilateral meetings with Al-Absi, stated that the Chief of LMRA would be visiting Sri Lanka with the primary objective of discussing and strategising with the relevant authorities and Ministries in Sri Lanka in order to secure semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled employment opportunities in the Kingdom of Bahrain. According to Ambassador Dr Mendis, this visit of the President of LMRA is critical and seminal, both in nature and in substance, in securing gainful employment opportunities in Bahrain. 

In this context, according to Ambassador Dr Mendis and Chairman of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, R K Obeyesekera, Al-Absi is scheduled to conduct highly focused and result oriented meetings and discussions with the Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Employment, G.S. Withanage and senior most officials as well as with Minister of Foreign Employment. Al Absi is also slated to pay a courtesy call/brief meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka.

Al-Absi stated to Ambassador Dr. Mendis that most of the employers, both large scale as well as mid scale corporates and companies in Bahrain, wish to have qualified nationals of Sri Lanka since they are highly competent, committed and dedicated to their respective disciplines.