Thr Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) does not spare any effort to provide business owners with more facilities in line with directives of the leadership, chief executive Ausamah Al Absi said.

He was speaking on the sidelines of an LMRA meeting with Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry's small and medium enterprises (SMEs) committee members yesterday.

He said the LMRA is an official executive body that works alongside the private sector towards achieving public interest goals.

It understands a great deal about business owners' demands and LMRA officials will attend committee meetings regularly to solve their problems, Mr Al Absi said.

He said about 65,425 SMEs do not meet the compulsory Bahrainisation quotas, while 42,523 commercial establishments, representing 65 per cent of the sector, have not used work permits to bring in expat workers.

A plan has been put in place to support business owners facing difficulties by allowing them to pay LMRA fees in instalments.

Under it, payment must exceed BD500, he said.

Business owners must also sign an agreement to pay 25 per cent of the fees and the rest in 12 instalments, Mr Al Absi added.