Expats' residency doubts

The following refers to reports that Arabian Gulf labour ministers plan to limit the stay of expats for 5 years.

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/1yr_arc_Articles.asp?Article=239951&Sn=LETT&IssueID=31298&date=1-12-2009

Five-year cap plan should be tested

This refers to 'Five-year cap doubts' (Gulf Daily News, December 26).

Since the letter writer is new to Bahrain, he may gradually realise that Eastern expatriates, especially white-collar executives, too need to brush up on professional integrity. I have seen and heard of many cases where Eastern expatriates engage in various unfair and unethical acts in offices here to protect their so-called senior positions or to keep their jobs.

Eastern expatriates should bear in mind that they are working in a foreign country. They should be kind, honest and polite towards their fellow expats, whatever the provocation.

Some lucky or brave-hearted Eastern white-collar expatriate office workers stay on in Bahrain beyond five years.

But a number of Eastern expatriates are driven out from Bahrain within five years due to ill-treatment and harassment in offices by South Asian supervisors, managers, seniors and colleagues.

The plan to restrict expats' stay to five years should be tested at least for a few years to see whether it brings about any positive change in the selfish attitudes of some senior Eastern expats.