Bahrain: Our Need For Indians Is Like Our Need For Air · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Earlier this month, Bahrain announced that it would be ending the system of sponsorship of foreign workers, meaning that from August workers will no longer be dependent on their employer, but sponsored directly by the government's Labour Market Regulatory Authority, and will be permitted to change jobs without their employer's consent. The move is designed to stop the practice of Bahrainis sponsoring large numbers of workers, usually from the Indian subcontinent, and charging them a “visa fee” to work with another employer.
However, for some in Bahrain, which has demographic tensions and a problem with unemployment amongst its citizens, the idea of it becoming easier for foreigners to work in the country is worrying.
Blogger Mohammed Marhoon describes a recent experience:
At first I thought he wanted to sell me a bottle of water, but I didn’t see any water bottles in his hands. Here I should clarify that I mean mineral water, in Hindi “pani”, and what Mary's children [English-speakers] call “water”, so we are not subject to questioning or accused of belonging to any terrorist organisations. At any rate, I opened the window, and found he was asking for help: “Baba, am poor…I no money…God mercy your parents… poooor, baba, am pooor, baba.” I was surprised. Was it by chance, or are there hundreds like him? I won't focus on poverty and need here, as there are other communities just like him living all over Manama, and it isn't strange to see them – but this was the first time I’d noticed an Indian begging!
تستقطب منطقة المنامة يوم الجمعة من ساعات الصباح الأولى الهنود وهم “ضاربي دهن الراس”، “وثياب مكوية”، “وأذواق مختلفة” وتلاقح ثقافات وطقوس، فتجدهم يتبادلون التحايا ويتحاضنون “Hug’” ويصطفون لصلاة الظهر، يتدفقون من كل حدب وصوب.. لينتهي الحال الجلوس على عتبات باب البحرين عصرا.. وارتياد الكورنيشات.. يوم حافل لديهم..
The early hours of Friday morning in the Manama souq area attract Indians, with their oiled hair, ironed clothes, and different tastes. It is a meeting of cultures and rituals. You see them exchanging greetings and hugs, then lining up for the midday prayers. They come from all over the place, and in the afternoon end up sitting by Bab Al Bahrain, or visiting the corniche [waterfront promenade]. It is a busy day for them…
إذا ما نظرنا للأعمال المتعددة التي يقوم بها “الهنود” في خدمة الشعب من أصغرها حتى أكبرها، فمن غسيل السيارات، بيع الياسمين في الطرقات إلى بناء الشاهقات، المحلات التجارية، رياض الألعاب، وصولا لمدراء و”كبارية” أينما “قلبت” وجهتك فثمّة “هندي” ولا غرو في ذلك!
If we look at the numerous jobs Indians perform in serving people, from the youngest to the oldest, these range from washing cars and selling jasmine on the streets, to building skyscrapers, shopping complexes and playgrounds, all the way to being managers and tycoons. Wherever you turn your face there is an Indian, and this is no surprise!
تجدهم مصطفين بنتظام طابور طويل على آلة السحب الآلي “A.T.M” ذلك لأخذ كشف الحساب، على أرباب العمل أن يمنحوا الهنود شهادة راتب ليزيحوا بذلك العناء النفسي والهوس لدى عامليهم “يجي فلوس”،”ما يجي”، “ناقص موجود”،”أرباب كنجوز”.. ويخفوا علينا “شوي”.
الهنود هم أكبر الجاليات المنتشرة في العالم التي تقدر عدد أفرادها حوالي 25 مليون هندي يعيش حول العالم! شريحة واسعة في البحرين مع فتح باب “فري ويزا” راح يكون الوضع مرعب! أكرر أول مرّة أشوف هندي “بابا فقيير.. بيزات مافيي” يطلب في وضح النهار من السيارات المارّة هنا وهناك! اليوم متعقّد من الهنود صراحة..!!!
You find them lined up orderly in a long queue for the ATM, in order to get their account balances. Employers have to give the Indians a salary slip to relieve their workers from the stress of thinking, “Is the money coming?”, “It’s not coming”, “Some is missing”, “My boss is greedy”, and “This is too little”.
Indians are the community most widely spread around the world. It is estimated that 25 million Indians live abroad. A large number are in Bahrain and with opening the door to free visa workers, the situation will be scary! As I said, this was the first time I had seen an Indian saying, “Baba, am poor, no money.” In broad daylight he was asking the cars passing here and there. Frankly, I think today I have developed a complex about Indians.