Bahrain has indefinitely suspended giving work permits to people in five South Asian nations severely hit by the coronavirus infection -  India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

“For the time being, individuals who are in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal are not able to gain work permits in Bahrain," a representative of Bahrani’s Labor Market Regulatory Authority said on Sunday.

He said the decision was put in place on May 24, and they are unsure when it will be lifted, The National reported.

Towards May end, Bahrain suspended the entry of travelers from the five countries on its red list in response to the rising number of Covid-19 infections and deaths.

“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 representative said.

Bahrain’s national medical committee, established to address the pandemic, will assess which countries will be added to or removed from the list according to certain criteria, he said.

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

The kingdom also reintroduced mandatory quarantine for all non-vaccinated travelers arriving in Bahrain.

(SAM)