Morag

Let’s be honest, it’s the tax-free earningsthat entice most expats to up-sticks and move to Bahrain.

Attractive salary packages with housing andeducation allowances thrown in, along with plenty of sunshine, why wouldn’t youjump at the chance of expat living … or is it all too good to be true?

Well, for starters, we are the lucky ones.Bahrain’s other expat population is often forgotten and ignored, no attractivesalary and perks for them! Of course, I’m talking about the large population ofexpatriate manual workers, labourers and maids who leave their families behindin their home countries to work their socks-off for a meagre salary and quiteoften land up living and working in some pretty dire conditions.

So, this week when I found myself having awee grumble and moan about the constant rise in the cost of living here, whatwith another significant increase in electricity and water rates for expatsonly.

A friend brought me back down to earth asshe reminded me just how fortunate we are compared to the majority ofstruggling expats trying to earn enough money to send back home to theirfamilies in Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, India and the Philippines.

How on earth will these expats manage tocontinue to work here in Bahrain? Will many be forced to return to their homecountries? And, can anyone tell me, why is it only the expat population beingfaced with these increases?